Martina Gemmola
Martina is a photographer in Melbourne (Naarm) who works with designers of all disciplines. After living in Europe and the USA, she honed her craft, capturing her surroundings with sensitivity and balance. Led by light and form, she is constantly delighted by the spaces and gardens she works in, and the warm relationship she forms with her clients.

The Project
A stately Spanish Mission home reimagined as a summery suburban retreat – a handwritten architectural love story between Moorish flair and Aussie outdoor leisure. This home’s joyful street character needed an internal world to match, with easy comfort, improved connectivity and flexibility for the family within. Embracing its ornamental Spanish features – arches joined by barley-twist column, terracotta, stucco, curves, fortress-like proportions – to apply an equally handcrafted quality indoors. Clay and ochre tones cast an idyllic glow, playing off the dirty pink hue of the original house, with speckled terrazzo, timber, terracotta and rosy travertine throughout. Anchored in natural earthy hues, this palette holds the client’s existing art warmly.

Every element has been considered as a fun sensory opportunity, from custom timber handles to the richness of handmade finishes. Artfully concealing appliances and storage in the kitchen, powder pink cabinets are punctuated by expertly shaped, sliced and splayed timber, forming irresistibly grabbable handles that feel like “kisses from the house”. The new backyard was also completely redesigned as part of the project, with a thoughtfully composed range of sitting areas in dialogue with internal spaces. These act as overflow during social gatherings, as well as solo nooks for retreat.

Architect: WOWOWA