The Toorak House project represents a pivotal moment in architect Karen Alcock's career, marking her first opportunity to lead a complete design project from conception to completion. Completed in 2005 by MA and Co (formerly Neometro Architects), this residential project served as both a testing ground for innovative design concepts and a stepping stone toward Alcock's eventual establishment of her own independent practice.
The project began when clients approached the firm seeking to downsize from their decorative house in Caulfield to a new residence in Toorak. Working alongside architect Maria Danos, Alcock aimed to incorporate detailed craftsmanship elements that would reflect the clients' previous home while maximizing space for entertaining. The team jokingly nicknamed the residence "the entertainer" due to its unique layout featuring only two bedrooms but extensive entertaining areas designed to accommodate family gatherings.
One of the most distinctive features of the Toorak House is its sophisticated approach to privacy and functionality. The design incorporates secret doors that cleverly conceal day-to-day living spaces, allowing the homeowners to seamlessly transition between private family life and entertaining guests. This innovative solution demonstrates the architects' understanding of their clients' lifestyle needs and their commitment to creating spaces that serve multiple purposes.
The project showcases numerous bespoke elements that highlight the clients' appreciation for craft and detail. Among the most notable features is a glass sliding door leading to the study, which was custom screen-printed by Spacecraft, adding an artistic element to the functional design. The building's facade stands out with its composition of thin Italian tiles, creating a refined exterior that sets the house apart from surrounding properties.
For Alcock, this project represented an ambitious undertaking that allowed her to test her design capabilities with unprecedented autonomy. As a private commission for Neometro Architects, where she had been working since 1997, the project provided freedom from the typical constraints of larger practices. This independence enabled the team to follow the project through from initial conception to final realization, making refinements and adjustments on-site as needed.
The design features several technically challenging elements that demonstrate Alcock's growing expertise and attention to detail. The floating ceiling and frameless glass windows required precise execution and reflect the development of her design practice during this period. However, Alcock notes that with greater control comes greater responsibility, humorously mentioning that even decisions about letterbox placement can become surprisingly complex details.
The intimate scale of the Toorak House project, with Alcock collaborating closely with Maria Danos, facilitated significant professional growth that she had been seeking throughout her career. She emphasizes the importance of working with collaborators who share similar design philosophies, describing such partnerships as incredibly rewarding even as professional relationships naturally ebb and flow over time. The project benefited from having clients and a builder who supported the architects in taking on increased responsibility.
Reflecting on the experience, Alcock acknowledges that the project gave her a valuable preview of what operating her own practice would entail. While she had long desired the independence that comes with leading projects, she had been waiting for financial security before making the leap. When offered the opportunity to buy into Neometro Architects as a director, she viewed it as an important stepping stone toward eventually establishing her own practice.
Despite her gratitude for the experience of serving as a director in a thriving multidisciplinary business, Alcock admits she wishes she had possessed the confidence to establish her own practice earlier in her career. The lessons learned from the Toorak House project continue to influence her current work at MA and Co, where she emphasizes materiality, detailed craftsmanship, and the creation of "pause points" that provide order and guide viewers' experiences through each room.
The project team included builder VCON Builders, along with various consultants including Red Textas as building surveyor, NJM Design for civil engineering, BCM Engineers for structural engineering, and GTA Consultants for traffic consultation. While Alcock acknowledges that the Toorak House isn't perfect, she identifies numerous successful elements that continue to inform her current architectural approach, noting that perfection isn't always the goal – rather, creating spaces that are "just so."
