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
Set on Bunurong Country, Clique sees a 1940s clinker brick duplex bloom with colour, through a concise new extension and creative remap. Loving sentiment for retro Australiana and family history are important narratives, embedded throughout. From the once-overlooked front yard reimagined as a street-facing social garden, a rosy concrete pathway leads to a bold orange front door, stamped with the couple’s initials.

Inside, a kaleidoscope of hues awaits. An efficient corridor in eucalyptus green containing European laundry and study nook opens into a kitchen of variegated rouge marble, with a deep green marble island segueing into a tangerine breakfast bar. Opposite this, a double-height gallery wall houses the client’s eclectic array of art.

Terrazzo tiles from a previous project and a preserved timber subfloor contribute to sustainability, balancing luxury and frugality. Precious bricks reclaimed from the client’s grandfather’s factory form an ornate, geometric waterfall.

Natural light pours in through high windows and large sliding doors, connecting the interior with the small courtyard, effortlessly transitioning to al fresco living.

Clique proves that small homes can pop with personality, abundance and joy!

Architect: WOWOWA