Category Archives: Homes

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

Minimalist Design: ‘House K’ In Fairfield, Australia

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The Local Project – Increasing the efficiency of an existing residence, Kart Projects crafts K House, a minimalist home with a considered spatial plan. A house tour of the residence reveals a dwelling strongly connected to its external garden space, speaking to the virtues of mindful design.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Minimalist Home 00:30 – The Brief 01:05 – Minimising the Impact on the Garden 01:29 – The Original House 01:45 – A Reference to the Extension 02:04 – A Walkthrough of the Home 02:58 – The Ceiling Registered Floorplan 03:32 – Extending the Spatial Strategies to the Garden 03:59 – The Extension 04:16 – The Material Palette 05:26 – The Perks of Designing Every Aspect

Located in the Melbourne suburb of Fairfield, House K possesses a similar architectural history to the neighbouring builds. A weatherboard residence, the existing home was slightly worn and featured a small extension that was almost unusable. The original brief requested the existing house be reinterpreted as a minimalist home with a new extension added to allow for an altered internal layout. However, the condition of the essential architecture of the house meant that a more substantial renovation was required.

The resulting minimalist home retains much of the original garden space and effortlessly connects the landscape to the interior. Though repainted, the minimalist home retains its original weatherboard façade. Only the addition of a red fence outside the building offers a clue to the renovation work that lies beyond. A house tour of the home begins with a corridor intentionally kept dark in order to showcase the artwork purchased by the client. Compressing down into a steel transition space, the corridor leads to a large pivot door.

A nearby study and library space represents the last portion of the original house. The extension space is defined by a large storage volume and day bed, which together establish different zones, including the living room and dining area. Reinforcing the spatial plan, a coffered ceiling gently delineates the areas below. Extending the spatial strategies of the interior into the garden, Kart Projects creates a series of social amenities. The pool sits elevated on one side – in proximity to an outdoor dining area – whilst the space behind is detailed by a small deck and lawn which maximise the functionality of the landscape. Turning to face the exterior of the minimalist home, occupants will see a red-painted façade exclusive to the rear of the building. In materiality, House K reflects a taste for minimalism.

The material palette is stripped back, consisting primarily of timber-lined features sitting below the coffered ceiling. In the kitchen, the visual impact of a black kitchen island and bench is contained by means of elevation, so that the amenities appear to float in place. In addition, the interior design of the home is uplifted by the inclusion of multiple skylights. Exerting influence over all aspects of the project – including the architecture, interior design and garden landscaping – Kart Projects establishes a cohesive and contemporary home. House K embodies the thorough execution of a singular design concept, expressing the importance of effective spatial planning during renovation projects.

Architecture, Green Design, Home Design, Homes, Videos, Views

Sustainable Architecture: TMRW Home In Melbourne

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The Local Project – Passionate about creating a small home that considers a sustainable future, Marc and Felicity Bernstein at Hütt Homes collaborated with Blum to bring functionality into their family’s sustainable home.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Small, Sustainable and Timeless Home 00:48 – The Shape of the Land 01:12 – A Walkthrough the Home 01:41 – Making the Most of the Small Space 02:00 – Blum Addicts 02:14 – Blum’s Input 02:45 – Blum Storage Options 03:10 – The First Floor 03:38 – The Top Floor 03:54 – 5 Principles of a Passive House 04:44 – Creating a Carbon-Neutral Home 05:13 – A Home That Ticks Every Box

From the exterior of the small home, the architecture considers brick and concrete as main elements of the design, while the interior uses timber as a key material to minimise the home’s carbon footprint. Utilising an open plan approach in the small home allows for a connection to the rear and first-floor gardens. Throughout the residence, a sense of communal living has been infused alongside sustainable elements.

In the sunken living room – where the sense of the communal spirit of the small home is evoked – the surrounding timber edges allow for extra seating for larger gatherings. At the other end of the house, the kitchen and dining room showcase the collaboration with Blum through storage units and cupboards. Helping to provide functionality, organisation and ergonomics while increasing the home’s passive living, Blum specified products such as the LEGRABOX in the kitchen and first-floor bedrooms to enhance storage and aesthetic function.

Moving upstairs to the private spaces, Blum has assisted with the home’s organisation and ergonomics with floor-to-ceiling cupboards in the master to staircase storage systems in the children’s rooms. Additionally, a net has been installed in the children’s rooms, hanging over the ground level and allowing for extra play space without taking away from liveable areas. Further assisting with the passive living of the home, a garden has been installed on the first level and a living green wall in the bathroom adds a natural flow of oxygen. Continuing the importance of indoor air quality, a mechanical heat recovery system has been installed to capture fresh air and remove any stale air.

Furthermore, a heat exchanger allows for temperature stability all year while maintaining energy efficiency. Throughout the small home, an emphasis on creating a carbon neutral project is referenced in the architecture and interior design choices. From the use of timber to the living green wall and connections to the gardens, sustainability is the key focus of Blum and Hütt Homes’ collaboration. An inspiration for upcoming architects and designers to think and design responsibly, TMRW Home is a responsible family residence that considers the present and the future.

Home Design, Homes, Profiles, Videos, Views

Designers: One Bathroom Rendered Three Ways (AD)

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Architectural Digest – We gave interior designers Lula Galeano, Laura Hodges, and Alvin Wayne a photo of the luxury bathroom – then asked each of them to create a design for it in their particular style, however they pleased.

Designer Portfolio Pictures provided by:

Three artists, one canvas, each bringing something different to space. See which designer comes closest to creating your dream bathroom.

Renders provided by:

Spacejoy, a design-led commerce platform powered by interactive 3D technology. Spacejoy pairs customers with expert designers to create a stunning home featuring handpicked products from top brands that you can shop instantly. https://www.spacejoy.com/

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Home Tours: The ‘Dolphin Sands Studio’ In Tasmania

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The Local Project – At the end of an undulating path is Dolphin Sands Studio, a small cabin that floats atop the dunes and looks out to The Hazards mountain range and the Peninsula beyond. From the open deck of the cabin, the doors open up to the main living spaces of the studio cabin.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Tiny Cabin on a Hidden Beach 00:31 – The Location of Dolphin Sands 00:45 – A Walkthrough and Around the Cabin 01:04 – The Spacial Components 01:24 – Conceived as a View Finder 01:59 – Utilising as Few Materials as Possible 02:20 – Room for Two 02:48 – Providing Protection 03:05 – The Triangular Form 03:28 – The Architects Proud Moments

Consisting of a kitchen, living space and bedroom – with an adjacent bathroom – the cabin home holds everything the occupants need in one space. Located on a hidden beach in Tasmania, Australia, Dolphin Sands Studio by Matt Williams Architects has been conceived as a viewfinder – giving the occupants unmatched views across the bay. Completing the architecture and interior design, the architect worked alongside the builder to consider how the triangular form of the remote cabin could embrace its surroundings.

This was done by employing a large south-southeast facing window and using as few materials as possible to create a calm space for the occupants. Built on an exposed site, Dolphin Bay Studio embraces its surroundings by inserting itself as one with the landscape. Conceived as a solid tent, the cabin home allows for protection from the elements while maintaining an immediacy with the landscape.

Employing sustainable materials, Matt Williams Architects establishes that the materials work in tune with the weather while not taking away from the experience of living in the unique beach cabin. Capturing the golden sunrise every morning, the position of the cabin home allows the occupants to completely embrace the spectacular views and become one with the community. Though Dolphin Sands Studio is small in scale, the location and proximity to the bay brings external space for the occupants to enjoy.

With a desire to reduce the impact on the terrain, as well as flora and fauna, the architect and builder created a minimally impactful home that inserts itself into the bay. Also offering an escape from the worries of everyday life and the bustling cityscape, the cabin is a uniquely designed home that considers more than its occupants. With an offer of serenity, sustainability and waterside living, Dolphin Bay Studio pushes towards what is possible when designing and living sustainably.

Architecture, Green Design, Home Design, Homes, Videos, Views

Architectural Tours: Off-Grid ‘Limestone House’ In Melbourne, Australia

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The Local Project – Crafted by John Wardle Architects, this sustainable off-grid house is best explored by means of a house tour. Combining seamless interior design and architecture with a minimal environmental impact, Limestone House forms a cohesive celebration of functionality.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Sustainable Off-Grid House 00:41 – The Location and The Vacant Lot 01:22 – Architects Declare 01:39 – The Living Building Challenge 02:06 – Passive House Standards 02:40 – The Shading Systems 03:04 – What’s Behind the Walls 03:19 – The Energy Supply 03:35 – Requirements of the Living Building Challenge 03:50 – The Two Main Materials Used 04:12 – An Interesting History Behind the Timber 04:42 – The Handmade Aspects 05:01 – Floating on a Sea of Native Grasses

Located in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak, Limestone House rests on the Wurundjeri Land of the Kulin Nation. Initially vacant, the project site excited the clients with the possibility of building a sustainable off-grid house. Paying homage to the environmental agenda, the landscape design of Limestone House sees the building float above a sea of native grass. Guiding the design of Limestone House is the Living Building Challenge and Passivehaus, two rigorous standards of sustainability.

In order to satisfy the standards, John Wardle Architects ensures that the home operates as a sustainable off-grid house, harvesting its own water and disposing of all of its waste water. Externally, a set of edible plantings on the terrace meets the requirement for food production on site. The Passivehaus standard sees a tightly-sealed, sustainable off-grid house emerge. While a passive ventilation system consistently delivers fresh air into the home at a slow speed, an airtight barrier seals heat into the dwelling, maximising energy efficiency.

Similarly, high-performance insulation is applied to the walls, roof and floor and the home features triple-glazed windows. Shading systems take the form of motorised venetian blinds to the northeast and west, as well as operable timber louvres at roof level over the courtyard. Internally, the material palette of Limestone House consists primarily of stone and timber. Concrete benchtops and Queensland siltstone complement the calming tonal character of the scheme alongside hydrowood oak. Many of the trees used for the oak come from a valley that was flooded during a 1940s hydroproject – now the timber comprises a bespoke dining room table.

A sustainable off-grid house, Limestone House produces its own energy and a surplus of five per cent that is exported to the grid. While meeting the design brief, John Wardle Architects ensures that the residence forms a unique embracement of natural serenity, in distinction from other sustainable dwellings of the past.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Architectural Tours: An 8′ Wide House In Toronto

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This ultra-narrow house looks modern on the outside, but inside it’s a cozy and welcoming home with multiple levels designed around a meandering set of stairs that run up the center of the home. With lots of wood, exposed copper pipes, and small dimensions, the owner often describes the house as feeling like a boat or a treehouse.

While it might seem like the house was recently built as an in-fill house or accessory dwelling unit, there has actually been a narrow single-story structure on the property since at least 1880. It wasn’t until 1980 – a full century later – that the then-owner, an architect, applied to the committee of adjustments to build the house as it is today.

With such a long and narrow floorplan, an important feature of the house is the full glass walls and skylights at both ends of the house, which lets natural light flow into each room and prevents the house from feeling dark and confined.

Culture, Homes, Lifestyle, Magazines, Photography, Travel

Lifestyle: Country Life Magazine – Nov 16, 2022

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Country Life Magazine – November 16, 2022 issue:

SURVIVING WINTER: Joe Gibbs summons the fortitude of our forebears in a bid to survive the cold season in an old house with rattling windows, draughty chimneys and a leaky roof.

NEWS: What impact will inflation and the cost-of-living crisis have on our historic houses and churches?

MASTERPIECE: The Forstye Saga‘s enduring appeal.

ARCHITECTURE: Drapers’ Hall: An enduring force for good.

FURNITURE: The joys of gilded furniture.

INTERIORS: Fat, often glistening metallic tassels, fringes, cords and braids—known as passementerie—have been beautifying interiors for centuries, reveals an admiring Matthew Dennison.

Architecture, Design, Home Design, Homes, Magazines

Homes & Design: Dwell Magazine – Nov/Dec 2022

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Dwell – November / December 2022 issue:

What Will the Neighbors Think: Fearless American Homes

  • Setting the Table: Our Guide to Hosting a Well-Designed Dinner Party
  • Starter Homes: A Pink House in Indiana Proves They’re Still Possible
Six American Designers Share Their Inspiring New Takes on a Dream Dinner Party

Six American Designers Share Their Inspiring New Takes on a Dream Dinner Party

We can all get stuck in a rut. This holiday season, break out of yours.

New Initiatives and Leaders Are Bringing Power and Profits to America’s Crafting Communities

New Initiatives and Leaders Are Bringing Power and Profits to America’s Crafting Communities

Geechee basketmakers, Gee’s Bend quilters, and Native American artisans are developing ways of navigating markets that have not always had their best interests at heart.

A Composer and Fashion Designer Add an Inspiring Creative Space to Their Los Angeles Backyard

A Composer and Fashion Designer Add an Inspiring Creative Space to Their Los Angeles Backyard

The two-level ADU is decked out with a light-filled recording studio for him, and for her, a luminous design space with soaring ceilings and sliding glass doors.

Architecture, Art, Home Design, Homes, Views

The Art Of Architecture: ‘Santo By Th Sea’ (Vietnam)

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“Santo by the Sea” was developed based on the idea of ​​​​the owner’s desire to have a Mediterranean Revival – Santorini architecture.

WA Awards 42nd Cycle is open for Votes until 4 December 2022

However, the difficulty when developing this style is that the doorways are very small and narrow as well as how to bring new modernity to the house. From that concept,

Santo by the Sea

Santo by the Sea is designed with large arched doorways to make the most of the beauty of the surrounding nature and bring natural light to the interior spaces.

SANTO by the Sea House / Pham Huu Son Architects - Exterior Photography, Windows

SANTO by the Sea House / Pham Huu Son Architects - Exterior Photography, Facade, Arch, Arcade