SITCHU MAGAZINE A first glance at Elystan reveals a glorious fusion of tactile materials, an earthy palette, curved motifs, streams of natural light and an abundance of lush greenery. Principal of Samantha Leigh Interiors, Samantha Leigh, sums up the New Farm home’s unique style as tropical brutalism. While at first the concept of tropical brutalism may seem paradoxical, it’s the innate contradictions that make this architectural approach so striking. A collaboration between Tim Stewart Architects, landscape designers Wild Studio and Samantha Leigh Interiors, the home is a testament to a vision realised. Merging the raw concrete and geometric lines of traditional brutalism with a distinct softness was the team’s biggest challenge and was overcome by considered palettes, materiality, and an intention to balance rawness without tipping into austerity. “Our role as the interior designer was to help balance that out and introduce softness throughout,” Samantha explains. She adds, “Every material decision was made in direct response to the concrete.” “The board-formed concrete is a strong presence, but we counterbalanced it with materials that are warm and tactile by nature: Venetian plaster, hand-chiselled limestone, travertine, and layered textiles,” Samantha elaborates. Another way the starkness of the strong and linear brutalist elements was balanced was via the introduction of curves. “We carried that language through internally, focusing particularly on the staircase and other key transitions through the home. They are used sparingly though. We didn’t want curves everywhere. The intention was for them to feel considered and deliberate rather than decorative,” shares Samantha. “The board-formed concrete is a strong presence, but we counterbalanced it with materials that are warm and tactile by nature: Venetian plaster, handchiselled limestone, travertine, and layered textiles.” — Samantha Leigh 03
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