Orb House, Kew sells to Chinese buyers, as price goes backwards a bit

Orb House in Kew, the noteworthy Bojan Simic Architecture-designed contemporary home, has been sold for $4,928,000.

It had been listed for sale mid-2014 through Kay & Burton agents Sam Wilkinson and Scott Patterson with settlement occurring in the week before Christmas.

Its last published asking price was $4.95 million.

It was bought by Chinese buyers, James Tan and Liping Liu from Applecross, Perth who set up Treasure Prosperity Pty Ltd as their purchasing company.

It first sold for $5 million in early 2011 through Wilkinson.

Set high on the hill in Kew, it was built during 2009 by WAF Constructions on its 582 square metres block at 52a Molesworth Street.

It is four bedrooms and five bathrooms, with 495 square metres of space. Its facade is a huge wall of glass. There is a giant circle cut-out on the wall behind and a staircase forming an exaggerated zigzag below. 

A curved central spine wall separates the house into two zones: the communal living areas within the curved rim and then its bedroom sleeping zone is positioned beyond.

A circular cut-out in the pergola roof continues the orb theme, as does a dome on its top.

There is a central courtyard model, inspired by dwellings of ancient Pompeii.

The office space on the mezzanine level overlooks a two-storey internal void with views to Studley Park through dramatic two-storey glass curtain walls. 

It was shortlisted for the Australian Institute of Architects 2010 Victorian Awards.