Casa Piva is a house in Melbourne, Australia, designed in 2023 by B.E. Architecture. The home features a kitchen-dining area that supports the family’s daily routine. Elements such as minimalistic timber joinery and secluded courtyards contribute to a sensibility reminiscent of an Italian country home from a bygone age.
Casa Piva, designed by B.E. Architecture, is nestled down a quiet Melbourne laneway and “is an inward-looking building surrounded by walled courtyards,” according to Andrew Piva. The house’s brick facade, described as “almost windowless,” is paired with large skylights and internal garden spaces to bring light into the home.
The house utilises a locally made concrete brick, Tuscan oak, and travertine for all its elements, establishing what Piva describes as “an older feeling of a quieter bygone age.” These materials also reflect his family’s Italian heritage, contributing to the home’s character and ambiance.
Casa Piva’s interior includes a kitchen-dining area where the family gathers. Piva notes that “the kitchen’s minimalist simplicity disguises its functionality,” with large storage and pantry facilities concealed behind the timber joinery that wraps around the space.
“The kitchen has been purposefully separated from the main living area to keep the meal functions separate from the noise and distraction of the entertaining areas,” he explains.
While “not a large house,” Piva describes the spaces as designed “efficiently and with a sense of generosity,” avoiding unnecessary distractions and embracing a process of reduction to its core elements.
He says the spaces in the house are functional and “also act as another living space integrated with the rest of the house’s aesthetic.”
According to Piva, it has “a sensibility” in its design, a belief that supports how they “live and interact together.”
