217-219 Cotham Road, Kew, VIC 3101
T +61 3 9817 2300
Housemuseum

The original Housemuseum was designed by collector and architect Corbett Lyon between 2002 and 2006.

The building's hybrid design juxtaposes and blurs domestic and museum architectural typologies, creating a layered scenographic landscape for the display of artworks and provided living spaces for the Lyon family.

Spaces on the ground floor to flow seamlessly through the building, opening out on to a series of landscaped courtyards and sculpture gardens. The first floor is more enclosed and inwardly focused, with internal windows and openings framing vistas through the building's multi-layered interior spaces.

The Housemuseum's internal walls and ceilings are clad in timber veneered panels on which are printed small texts. Comprising of over 35,000 words and configured to spell the word 'ART' in capital letters across the walls and ceilings, the texts document the history of the Housemuseum's occupants.

A cladding of dark grey zinc wraps the angular form of the building which is expressed in the form of a 'house' and 'museum'.

In 2010 the Housemuseum won the Australian Institute of Architect's Harold Desbrowe-Annear Award and in the same year was cited by Larry's List as 'one of the world's 10 most exciting buildings of private art museums'.

  • concept drawing of the hybrid house and museum
    concept drawing of the hybrid house and museum
  • ''boxes'' in the first floor plan contains the Housemuseum's storage and functional spaces
    ''boxes'' in the first floor plan contains the Housemuseum's storage and functional spaces
  • the word ''ART'' imprinted on to the ceiling panels of the building with 35,000 texts
    the word ''ART'' imprinted on to the ceiling panels of the building with 35,000 texts
  • fluid circulation through the spaces of the building
    fluid circulation through the spaces of the building
  • the Housemuseum entry on Florence Avenue
    the Housemuseum entry on Florence Avenue
  • view of the Housemuseum at night
    view of the Housemuseum at night
  • Housemuseum entry and first floor stairway
    Housemuseum entry and first floor stairway
  • the external sculpture gardens
    the external sculpture gardens
  • an abstracted, angular form clad in dark grey zinc
    an abstracted, angular form clad in dark grey zinc
  • the Housemuseum's central living space, integrating art and living
    the Housemuseum's central living space, integrating art and living
  • entry hall and staircase up to first floor dining room
    entry hall and staircase up to first floor dining room
  • miniature museum in fold out cabinet
    miniature museum in fold out cabinet
  • printed texts on the walls and ceilings - a family history
    printed texts on the walls and ceilings - a family history
  • white cube space at centre of the Housemuseum
    white cube space at centre of the Housemuseum
  • group show installation in white cube
    group show installation in white cube
  • art and living - family and art sharing spaces in the Housemuseum
    art and living - family and art sharing spaces in the Housemuseum
  • a miniature arthouse inside an art house
    a miniature arthouse inside an art house
  • central music room
    central music room
  • black cube space for video art
    black cube space for video art
  • the Housemuseum concert pipe organ
    the Housemuseum concert pipe organ
  • the Housemuseum concert pipe organ
    the Housemuseum concert pipe organ
  • storage and display of works in fold out cabinets and panels
    storage and display of works in fold out cabinets and panels
  • view from study on to front sculpture garden
    view from study on to front sculpture garden
  • Corbett Lyon's hexagonal table in the Housemuseum study
    Corbett Lyon's hexagonal table in the Housemuseum study
  • view from the upper galleries across the white cube space
    view from the upper galleries across the white cube space
  • view from first floor dining room across white cube space
    view from first floor dining room across white cube space
  • slot windows in the upper galleries of the white cube
    slot windows in the upper galleries of the white cube
  • furniture and fittings designed by the architect/collector
    furniture and fittings designed by the architect/collector
  • furniture and fittings designed by the architect/collector
    furniture and fittings designed by the architect/collector