VISION 33—THE ROSSETTI STONE
The architect’s own house design can
be fraught. Many find themselves facing
blind-spots similar to the self-healing
physician. Ego, ambition and budget
are all central to the tables and mirror
turned. How to multi task as client and
provider? Numerous books of architects’
own homes suggest it’s the dream
intersection of talent and opportunity.
Gorgeous images rarely tell the whole
story. It can be a lure to go broke, crazy
or worse. Success stories are worth the
telling because even these rarely come
without struggle.
PROJECT
Hawthorn House, Melbourne
ARCHITECT
Craig Rossetti
PRINCIPAL GLAZING
Viridian SuperClear™
TEXT, IMAGES & FILM
Peter & Jenny Hyatt
M
elbourne-based Rossetti ran the gauntlet and
emerged at the other end with a striking home to
show for his efforts. Inspired by the irregularities of
nature, Rossetti cast widely for ideas to inform a design of
quirky and ingenious delight realised in floating roof planes
and a towering window as wall.
Rossetti says the project is concerned with urban
consolidation and highlights the opportunity to use limited
resources. The allotment was created by subdividing a
substantial Victorian property. It’s a practice Rossetti
describes as becoming more problematic in certain
municipalities.
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