The clients required an “inviting and relaxed family house, which expands to the outdoors during summer months.”  The architectural response resulted in an understated contemporary home, utilising warm and cool materials, with living areas strongly focused on an indoor/outdoor relationship.

Living spaces are located on a split level above at the rear of the house and wrap around a courtyard allowing northern light to penetrate. The kitchen acts as a hub, with a direct relationship to dining, living and adjacent outdoor areas. Ceilings rake over living areas, maximising volume, allowing diffuse light whilst generous eaves minimise direct sun penetration.

A lap pool set on the edge of the living space, contrasts against the free-standing fire-place providing a visual feature and focus to the internal spaces. Landscape elements are framed at the end of circulation areas and along the length of the house allowing visual relief and connection.

Upstairs the master bedroom opens out on to a balcony, looking north over a park opposite. The expansive ensuite overlooks the courtyard and lap pool to the south. Minor bedrooms each have unique views, focusing north and into a courtyard pond. Feature lighting and joinery formally frame bed spaces in all bedrooms. In the master suite, the robe space is neatly hidden behind a feature wall.