The site of Max Fink’s South Yarra home was once a former church before the current structure was built on it.

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Notable restaurateur Max Fink and his wife Pat are selling their $8m contemporary rule-bending South Yarra residence.

Mr Fink has been part of founding some of Melbourne’s most well-known venues, including The Lucky Coq, Bimbo Deluxe, Provincial Hotel, Naked for Satan and Smith Street Bar and Bistro.

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However, it was no easy feat for the couple to get planning permissions for the luxury home at 11 Cliff St, which was built in two stages, the first starting 28 years ago and the second 14 years ago.

But after all that time, the Bruce Katsipidis architectural design that emerged was so good the local council bent the rules for it.

“We got permission to put a swimming pool on the property’s boundary with a high wall over it and a fountain wall; it’s gone from being a bit of nothing to a spectacular-looking area,” Mr Fink said.

Inside the open living space the flows through to the dining and kitchen area.

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Large windows on the upper floor give scenic views of the city.

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“We found ourselves in a situation where the home was a metre higher than was allowed by planning standards, but the council really liked it because it was such a unique design, and the one metre wouldn’t make much difference.”

Mr Fink said one of his favourite features of the home was being so close to Chapel St, but not hearing any residual noise from the street.

Bimbo Deluxe Pizza owner Max Fink.

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“We got thickened 6-millimetre glass to keep the noise out; I know the new owners will appreciate this,” he said.

“My favourite memory in the home was when my daughter was eight-months old. When we walked into the home for the first time, I had to change her nappy at the front door. There was this big mess everywhere.”

One of the home’s four bathrooms.

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The pool on the home’s boundary that Fink got special permission to build.

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Director of RT Edgar Toorak Jeremy Fox said the site was an old church demolished to make way for the new contemporary building.

“The home has everything you need from an art, yoga studio and views overlooking the city,” Mr Fox said.

“I’ve got a few young families with teenagers looking at the home and someone who wants to run it as a home office.

“And having such a house in South Yarra with a 15-metre pool is rare.”

He added that anything renovated across the suburb and neighbours Toorak and Armadale were doing well at the moment.

The property sits on 633 sqm.

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Meanwhile, the rejuvenation of Chapel St, where the Lucky Coq bar Mr Fink helped establish is located, has raised the appeal of homes in the area for buyers.

Expressions of interest for the property close on Friday April 26 at 12pm.

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