Salmon House By True Story.
Salmon House by True Story. is both home and sensory journey—unfolding in a series of spaces that shift from vibrant gathering places to moments of quiet retreat.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos DEAN BRADLEY Architecture & Interiors TRUE STORY. Styling LOU WESTER
A restrained palette of warm timber, textured panelling, and soft neutrals shapes the kitchen at Salmon House by True Story.—where function and form meet in harmony.
A concealed bar nook and layered materiality in the kitchen space.
The house emerges as a strong and deliberate composition, where brickwork, glass, concrete, stucco and timber come together in balance.
An open-plan living area flows seamlessly into the kitchen, with soft textures and warm timber grounding the space.
“This concept of ascending or traversing from level to level or space to space, each prompting different experiences and senses, was likened to the journey of a salmon swimming upstream.”
Indoor and outdoor living connect effortlessly, with full-height glazing framing the dining area and opening to a sunlit terrace beyond.
Inside, the design harmonises privacy and openness through thoughtful interior architecture, shaped in response to both the site and the family’s daily life.
Several living areas offer spaces to gather and connect, while the library, study, and rooftop terrace provide moments of quiet retreat.
The interiors combine natural materials, bespoke detailing, and a curated approach to cabinetry and built-in furniture, balancing comfort with adaptability.
‘Moving to the higher levels, materials start to become more detailed, more refined, more relaxed.’
Thoughtfully placed windows interrupt the brickwork’s expanse, bringing scale, rhythm, and a more human touch to the façade
Salmon House by True Story. unfolds as both home and experience—an architectural journey where movement, materiality, and atmosphere are carefully composed to engage the senses.
Perched on a prominent corner of Northcote’s Ruckers Hill, the three-level home commands its position with a striking interplay of brickwork, glass, concrete, stucco, and timber, each design element contributing to a considered and enduring presence.
Navigating the home recalls its namesake; salmon swimming upstream, ascending from level to level, moving through spaces that shift between activity, reflection, and solitude. ‘Early in the process when the initial design concept was being developed, it became apparent that this house was going to be inherent of quite a few different levels; not only would there be a basement level, first floor and second floor, there would be a sequence of intermediate levels such as the pool terrace, sunken living room/outdoor dining terrace and of course the rooftop terrace, which is the highest of the six levels,’ shares Dan Gayfer, co director at True Story. ‘This concept of ascending or traversing from level to level or space to space, each prompting different experiences and senses, was likened to the journey of a salmon swimming upstream.’
The spatial arrangement is intentional: lower levels are robust, social zones—burnished concrete floors, timber, and steel anchoring spaces for exercise, swimming, dining, and gathering. ‘Moving to the higher levels, materials start to become more detailed, more refined, more relaxed. Porcelain, mosaic tiles, velvet, brass and reeded glass are all such materials, these present in spaces such as the kitchen/pantry, library, ensuite, bathroom and kids retreat,’ says Dan.
Council heritage requirements shaped the building’s form and materiality, encouraging a respectful dialogue with its surroundings. ‘Being such a prominent corner location and very much in the public eye, local Council, or more specifically their heritage advisor, were quite firm in their direction in regard to the design complementing the local heritage fabric,’ says Dan. The solution was a recessed junction between old and new, clad in narrow reeded glass, softening the transition while brickwork on the western façade referenced the original house and neighbouring properties.
Inside, the home balances connection and retreat. Multiple living zones bring family and friends together for extended periods, while the library, study, and rooftop terrace offer quiet escapes. The pool and pool house add another layer of leisure, visually and physically linked to the main house through shared concrete walls, creating ‘a unique unification of interiors, architecture, landscape and daily living.’
Every ascent within Salmon House is deliberate, with every material chosen for how it shapes experience—the result, a home that is connected to its site and attuned to family living.
