It’s been the best part of a decade since Australia was graced with an exhibition of David Hockney’s artwork, but if you’re lusting after the same spirit of lackadaisical freedom there’s a home in Canberra that might just offer you a taste. In what looks like a transplant from 1960s Palm Springs, the residence at 45 National Circuit, Forrest, promises a lifestyle of afternoon Mint Juleps by the pool before retiring to the lava lamp-lit conversation pit for a Manhattan or two.
It isn’t common to find tributes to Desert Modernism Down Under, no less in the heart of the nation’s capital, but the folks behind this circa 2016 build project were clearly fans of the movement. Rich with period-inspired details both inside (such as the glorious Oblica Focus floating fireplace) and out (the front eve has a hole cut into it for a palm tree to grow through), the home is a genuinely rare find.
Despite my best efforts to find any mention of the architect behind the design of 45 National Circuit, Forrest, they, unfortunately, remain nameless online despite the measured restraint and attention to detail required to bring such a vision to life. The property features five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a garage that can hold five cars (one of which will have to be on a stacker), but it’s the common areas of the home that inject it with personality.
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The low-rise flat-roofed structure is surrounded by a low-maintenance garden, with the clipped front lawn flanked by a circular driveway leading to the front door that almost disappears into the facade of the home. Upon entering, you immediately find yourself in the light-filled open-plan living, kitchen and dining area, the heart of which is the velvet-covered sunken lounge. The kitchen boasts a stone-topped large island bench and premium appliances, including a Gaggenau cooking range, a Liebherr fridge and a Qasair range hood.
The tone of the blonde timber kitchen cabinetry is found throughout the rest of the house, specifically in the master bedroom where the generously proportioned walk-in-robe features floor-to-ceiling wardrobes. The master bedroom also enjoys an ensuite bathroom with doors that open onto a private courtyard with an outdoor shower to rinse off after a splash in the pool.
Despite the low-rise first impression of 45 National Circuit, Forrest, the two-level home enjoys a lower level that can serve as a self-contained guest apartment, complete with a bedroom and kitchen, as well as a sizable cellar that can be used as a gym. The other three bedrooms are located beyond the living space on the ground level.
While the focal point of the interior is the conversation pit, all attention is on the pool when you step outside, framed by manicured lawns and overlooked by an alfresco dining area to enjoy the true Palm Springs lifestyle. In a thoughtful touch that is mirrored at the front of the property, the rear fences of the property are constructed from mid-century-inspired cinder blocks.
Conveniently located in the very heart of Canberra, less than a kilometre away from the seat of government, this special home is all about the informal lifestyle it encourages you to live. Currently represented by the real estate team at Luton, 45 National Circuit, Forrest, is seeking expressions of interest with a $7,250,000 price guide.
