Project Feature: Gable House by Studio Doherty & Folk Architects
Defined by a playful dialogue between heritage architecture and contemporary design, Gable House by Folk Architects and Studio Doherty brings together bold colour, tactile materials and expressive forms. Thoughtfully balancing old and new, the home feels considered yet full of personality, creating a space that is both grounded in its history and distinctly of its time.
Located in Melbourne's inner suburbs, the project transforms an existing Queen Anne–Federation residence, carefully balancing its original character with a contemporary new addition.
Gable House by Folk Architects and Studio Doherty. Photos by Sean Fennessy
The kitchen and dining space form the heart of the home.
Rather than preserving the existing home as a static piece of history, Folk Architects reworked its layout around a central courtyard, opening the house to light and creating stronger connections between the existing and new spaces. At the rear, a zinc-clad addition introduces a distinctly contemporary expression, while its playful roof forms echo the picturesque qualities of the original architecture.
The original heritage residence meets a contemporary zinc-clad addition.
Architecture, interiors and objects come together with a sense of play.
Inside, Studio Doherty takes a similarly expressive approach. Colour, texture and unexpected material combinations bring personality to the spaces, creating interiors that feel considered but never overly restrained.
A bold palette unfolds throughout the interiors. Pale blue stone, pink joinery and richly coloured finishes sit alongside vintage pieces and contemporary furniture, creating a layered environment that feels both playful and highly personal. More intimate spaces take a quieter approach, balancing the home's stronger moments of colour with softer tones and natural materials.
Colour and materiality bring a playful character to the interiors.
The kitchen and dining area form the heart of the home, with a more generous layout replacing a series of smaller rooms. Salvaged brickwork maintains a connection to the existing structure, while timber, stone and painted joinery introduce warmth and tactility.
This dialogue between old and new continues throughout Gable House. Existing elements are retained and celebrated alongside robust contemporary materials, while the landscape extends the home's sense of character beyond its walls.
A layered interior brings together colour, texture and form.
The result is a home that feels deeply connected to its history while embracing a more playful way of living — an environment where architecture, interiors and objects come together with a sense of curiosity and ease.
Expressive colour is balanced by warm, tactile materials.
Coco Flip pieces sit naturally within Gable House's layered interiors, complementing the project's sculptural forms, expressive colour palette and considered approach to materiality.
The project shares an appreciation for design that is functional yet distinctive, allowing furniture and objects to contribute to the character of a space rather than simply occupy it.
Studio Doherty is a Melbourne-based interior design studio creating expressive, considered spaces through colour, materiality and a playful approach to design. The studio’s work balances bold ideas with thoughtful detailing, creating interiors that feel personal, warm and connected to the way people live.
Folk Architects is a Melbourne architecture practice exploring the relationship between people, place and the built environment. Their work combines thoughtful responses to context with a sense of curiosity and play, creating architecture that is both considered and engaging.
Architecture byFolk Architects
Interiors byStudio Doherty
Landscape byMud Office
Photos bySean Fennessy
