St Kilda Residence

“Rammed earth is a beautifully natural material, known for its sustainability, thermal mass and durability,” says Rohan. “Formed and compacted by hand, the construction of both internal and external walls at St Kilda Residence was a time-consuming process which required significant foresight and coordination.”

“The spaces and materiality are enlivened by the warmth and movement of light, where natural imperfections in the rammed earth become celebrated,” Rohan reflects. “Inherent formwork alignments, often hidden or forgotten, set the datum for joinery throughout.”

Within such a material-rich canvas, every gesture counts. ADDARC looked to ZETR to support their pursuit of restraint and refinement, integrating power and switching elements without compromising the material language.

“Integration of services within rammed earth was key to maintaining a rigour and finesse throughout the project,” explains Rohan. “Upfront detailing, coordination and prototyping with the builder, engineer and rammed earth contractor allowed successful integration of minimalistic detailing in an unforgiving material with 13 / FLUSH ZETR switches & GPO points.”

The use of 13 / FLUSH within the rammed earth walls enables a seamless expression, sitting within timber and other soft finishes - balancing contrast with consistency. In every case, the choice of material is deliberate.

“The aged brass palette of the ZETR switches and cover plates echoed the warmth of rammed earth and key fixtures and fittings,” Rohan notes. “Equally, ZETR within rammed earth was complemented with ZETR switches and GPO points within timber wall panelling, stone joinery and leather upholstery ensuring a holistic and considered integration at every detail.”

In St Kilda Residence, architecture is never an afterthought. It’s a conversation between craft and context, where earthy imperfection meets engineered clarity. Through this lens, ZETR becomes more than an interface but an integral part of the architecture’s quiet discipline.