Solara
Solara is a luxury residential build in Toorak, delivered by Easton on a steep, highly constrained sloping block. Designed as four interconnected pavilions, the home responds directly to the site, stepping with the natural fall of the land to maximise light, views and privacy. This complex architectural build showcases Easton’s capability as a high-end builder, delivering technically demanding homes across Melbourne’s most challenging sites.
Builder: Easton
Developer: Panaera One
Architecture: Victor Long - DND Studio
Photography: Dylan James
Solara is a ground-up luxury home built on a steep riverside site in Toorak. The original dwelling was removed to make way for a series of interconnected pavilions, forming a highly resolved response to the constraints of the block.
From the street, the home presents with restraint. A modest garage and entry offer little indication of the scale beyond, allowing the experience to unfold gradually. Arrival is defined by a bridge across the slope, leading to a stone-framed entry where a full-height pivot door opens into a vertical void. From here, the home expands outward, drawing in natural light and long views toward the river.
The architecture is shaped by the sloping block. Four separate structures step down the site, including a primary living pavilion, two bedroom pavilions, a wellness space with gym, steam room and sauna, and a combined garage and retreat. This approach allows each space to feel connected to the landscape while maintaining privacy and clarity of form.
Construction required a considered and sequenced methodology. Each pavilion was built from the lowest point upward, completed and stabilised before being linked to the next. This enabled safe and efficient delivery on a site where conventional building methods were not viable.
The result is a refined, site-responsive home that feels embedded within its environment. It reflects a collaborative process between builder, architect and client, and reinforces Easton’s position as a luxury residential builder known for complex architectural builds on sloping and constrained sites across Toorak, Kew and Hawthorn.
Solara was delivered under the leadership of Director and Site Manager Brodie Easton, who took a hands-on role throughout construction. Strong subcontractor relationships, clear communication and respect for trades were central to maintaining quality and consistency throughout a demanding build. Easton’s role extended beyond construction delivery, acting as a coordinating link between disciplines to support clear communication and cohesive project outcomes.
Shaped by its steep site and the complexities that came with it, Solara is unassuming on approach yet expansive in experience. It reveals itself gradually through bridges, decks, light and views, reading not as a single building but as a carefully considered architectural sequence. The project stands as a clear example of Easton’s expertise in delivering complex, high-end custom homes on difficult sites across Melbourne’s most tightly held suburbs, including Toorak, Brighton, Kew and Hawthorn.