Tucked behind rippled concrete columns in Toorak, Melbourne, Concrete Curtain is described by Architect and homeowner Feras Raffoul as an exercise in “architecture of the slow reveal.” From the street, the pleated façade offers privacy and permanence; inside, the home opens into a calm, tonal interior.

Concrete provides strength and enclosure, while glazing and layered stone introduce softness and light. “It was conceived as a private oasis — tranquil yet sculptural,” Feras explains.

Designing his own home brought a different kind of discipline. “There’s freedom in not having to explain every gesture,” he reflects, “but equally a challenge in knowing when to stop.” The process became one of careful editing — applying the same rigour he would for a client, while allowing measured moments of indulgence.

kaye 3639 wr
kaye 3639 wr

A fireplace built into the rhythm

From the outset, the fireplace was intended as an anchoring element — not simply a source of warmth, but a spatial reference point. Once its position and scale were defined, it allowed order to develop around it, both spatially and materially.

"The fireplace acted as a pivot," Feras notes. Selected for its proportions and clarity, the MODE KS1460 Gas Fireplace provided installation flexibility and minimal maintenance — freeing the design intent to stay focused on proportion and finish.

"What drew me to it was its visual purity — the seamless glass, the precision of the flames, and the choice in fuelbed design. It allowed me to retain full control over the surrounding materials. It doesn't dominate — it complements."

ks1460 concrete curtain fgr architects tim kaye webres_1
ks1460 concrete curtain fgr architects tim kaye webres_1

The seafoam quartzite — among the first uses of this stone at this scale in Australia — introduces undulating green-grey tones and layered veining that subtly echo the pleated concrete columns. Its softness offsets the muscularity of the structure, and continues from the fireplace surround into the adjacent kitchen, creating a sense of continuity and permanence.

fgr concrete curtain rollout 2
fgr concrete curtain rollout 2

A finish without compromise

Realising the design intent required the right installation partner. The team at Stoke Melbourne understood the design ambition immediately, working collaboratively through every stage of detailing and installation.

"Stoke's professionalism and technical knowledge meant we could achieve that clean, integrated finish without compromise — something that can be surprisingly rare in fireplace installations. It felt like a genuine partnership."

ks1460 concrete curtain fgr peter bennetts copy web

Photograph credit: Peter Bennetts

A flame to mark the evening

Day to day living includes a ritual use of the fireplace, "I often turn it on in the early evening — not just for heat, but to mark the shift in atmosphere," Feras explains.

Whether reading in the adjoining nook or hosting friends in the living room, the fireplace establishes a calm centre — a quiet heartbeat for the house. He reflects, "there's something about the combination of flame, stone and silence that creates a moment of pause."

 

Discover the MODE gas fireplace range at Stoke Fireplace Studio.