When Avi Milder designed this home in Caulfield for a family of five, including three adult children, he had one major goal in mind: to find that ‘wow’ factor to distinguish it from all others. Something eye-catching and easily recognisable on the street for visitors – for all the right reasons.

For Polo House, it began with the magnificent Petersen Kolumba™ (K11) bricks.

These handmade bricks are a work of art in themselves and, for this family of art lovers, a firm choice from the beginning.

“My clients saw them on a home in Sorrento and fell in love with them straight away – they love white bricks. And I love using the Petersen bricks because they have that earthy feel and texture to them,” Avi explains.

Paired with concrete render, metal cladding, glass and timber, they offered the look and feel Avi was seeking.

“Petersen Kolumba bricks provide that essential balance against the slickness of the metal cladding and the glass, providing a beautiful contrast. That’s why I used them against the concrete, too. The raw feature of the concrete and the earthy texture of the bricks give you that great contrast to the slickness of the house,” Avi says.

The overall palette is monotone – black, white and grey – for good reason: to enable the owner’s art to shine against the white walls, providing a burst of colour that brings the whole design to life.

Polo House screams contemporary luxury. It’s light and spacious, courtesy of multiple windows and skylights flooding rooms with light, and wonderfully green thanks to a number of courtyard gardens welcoming that extra pop of colour in through the windows.

Built for entertaining, both inside and out, it’s equipped with every mod con a family of adults would ever need. Think basement carpark and gym, large open plan kitchen and living area on the ground floor clad in terrazzo, and a warm beech timber staircase leading to the second floor, housing four large bedrooms – each with ensuite – plus a study.

Apart from palette choice, there are two standouts in this design. The open plan living area with its large void extending skyward to the second floor­ – including a glass roof with windows that open up and a blind for welcome summer shade – plus the magnificent alfresco area complete with pool and cabana.

Once again Avi, Omnicon Constructions and Formation Landscapes have worked their magic in Caulfield, hitting the mark in every respect on this magnificent forever home. And, of course, the owners absolutely love their new home, which was two years in the making. As you can see, it was well worth the wait.

Project details

Project: Polo House

Location: Caulfield

Architect: Avi Milder Architects

Builder: Omnicon Constructions

Landscape Designer: Formation Landscapes, Chris Weiss

Product: Petersen Kolumba K11 Bricks

Photographer: Courtesy Avi Milder Architects