Australia has some of the most eye-catching homes in the world. We sample a selection of awe-inspiring designs.
Home theatre Scenography – design for performance – has its roots in the theatre, yet was used to sublime effect in John Wardle Architects' approach to this striking coastal property. The layout is choreographed to pique anticipation as you move toward the main living space, with sensory and spatial experiences unavoidable as the home dips and coils around a central courtyard. Proportions and orientation are tailored not only to celebrate the drama of the natural environment beyond, but also to frame the theatre created by the inhabitants within. This home is in the running for a 2013 Australian Institute of Architects National Award. John Wardle Architects (03) 8662 0400, www.johnwardlearchitects.com; www.architecture.com.au.
This warehouse redesign was led by its function – a residence for a Sydney art collector. Polished concrete floors and cool white walls position the artworks as hero, but pops of colour and unexpected details ensure this home has more soul than a stark gallery. Robust materials and sculptural lines combine in a bold gesture, and restful courtyards puncture the roofline, all while maintaining a controlled internal climate that respects the art. In this graceful execution, Stephen Collins has successfully placed a prized collection on an artful stage. This home received a Best of State Residential Award in the 2013 Australian Interior Design Awards. Stephen Collins Interior Design 0412 181 413, www.australianinteriordesignawards.com.
Usually a house is built, then filled; however this Melbourne pub conversion flipped that tradition on its head. Initially approaching this project as a simple cosmetic upgrade and furniture overhaul, Hecker Guthrie was soon collaborating with Ridolfi Architects on an elaborate renovation. Guided by the existing industrial Skyrange steel doors, versatile glass-panelled barn-style doors were introduced throughout the home, encouraging the client to play with divisions of space. The crisp, organic aesthetic of the home is evident in the master bedroom, where a Gervasoni bed and side table share the floor with Poliform's voluminous Arflex chair. A Lindsey Adelman wall light continues the calming curve, and a Danese Milano poster adds a welcome splash of colour. This home was shortlisted for a 2013 Australian Interior Design Award. Hecker Guthrie (03) 9421 1644, www.heckerguthrie.com; www.australianinteriordesignawards.com.
Replete with alternative thinking and creative spatial planning, this home was crafted by designers Edwards Moore for a very colourful client. In the reworking of this St Kilda duplex, the designers, equipped by their history of set design and art direction, explored the ideas of overlapping function, verticality and sensory stimulation. The Marblo kitchen bench, in the resplendent hue of guava, also forms part of the staircase, while the upper half (timber treads in the client's favourite sunny shade) suspends from the level above. This home is the winner of the 2013 Dulux Colour Award – Single Residential Interior. Edwards Moore (03) 8060 1840, www.edwardsmoore.com; www.dulux.com.au.
A client with a company responsible for large-scale infrastructure aided in the sculptural composition of this home renovation on Victoria's famed Lorne beach. Orientated to take advantage of the landscape, The Pod is a private area at the rear of the property, a retreat for the owners. Two 22-tonne concrete boxes, engineered and supplied by the client, break down the mass of the structure and lend an industrial feel – a point of reference in this seafront landscape. Concrete lines the interior spaces too, and when teamed with a Moller bench, a steel and canvas floor lamp from Fork, and graphic blanket by Pia Wallén, ensures the master bedroom is a refined expression in monochrome. This home was in the running for a 2013 Australian Institute of Architects Award. Whiting Architects 0400 107 744, www.whitingarchitects.com; www.architecture.com.au.
A thoughtfully curated mix of classic, contemporary and abstract elements creates an alternative elegance in this Melbourne home. David Hicks's expertise in statement sophistication pairs Fritz Hansen's Egg chair with an antique French sofa upholstered in caramel linen. Both historically significant styles are given the attention they deserve, and are highlighted by the quirkiness of a custom-made antelope-horn doorhandle and Belinda Fox's ethereal artwork Higher Ground. An earthy palette affords the melange of elements a luxury and finesse, and fulfils the client's request for a grown-up home with an edge. This home was shortlisted for a 2013 Australian Interior Design Award. David Hicks (03) 9826 3955, www.davidhicks.com; www.australianinteriordesignawards.com.
Expressing a cohesive language between exterior and interior, this Victorian home proves that a simple tonal palette can make a grand statement. Internally, bluestone tiles clad the internal walls, setting the warm grey backdrop. Externally, water-jet cut bluestone screens fold around the building, casting their abstract shadows into the internal spaces – the chiaroscuros create a dynamic point of interest. The dining furniture assists in the sophisticated low-key scheme, both the table and chairs a collaboration between Stuart Rattle Interior Design, and Mortice and Tenon. This home was shortlisted for a 2013 Australian Interior Design Award. Büro Architecture (03) 9329 1450, www.buro.net.au; www.australianinteriordesignawards.com.
Faced with a run-down building on a somewhat awkward site, Multiplicity's design response was the timeless adage 'keep it simple'. And, in our wide, brown land what could be as simple as the humble shed? So the concept was born. With the belief that raw black steel can solve every problem, the Melbourne firm approached the project with the structural and decorative material as star. It frames windows, divides spaces and creates dramatic exposed ceilings. Layers of graphic monochrome, splashes of citrus, and vintage leather contribute to the personality of this unique family home. Regardless of the need to keep the construction as minimal as possible, Multiplicity has crafted a 'shed' full of complexity and detail. This home was in the running for a 2013 Australian Institute of Architects Award. Multiplicity (03) 9388 0790, www.multiplicity.com.au; www.architecture.com.au.
In seeking an almost transparent relationship with the surrounding stringybark woodland, Paul Morgan Architects transformed the natural surrounds into the structure of this cabin in Victoria's Central Highlands. Bleached animal bones and primitive huts provided inspiration during initial concept development, and the forest's natural resources led the materiality. In the striking end product, organic lines mimic the rhythm of the land, and timber forks and columns create an external truss with a gracious arboreal nod. These triangulated forms provide inherent strength, and by swathing the internal spaces with stringybark, the inhabitants' desire for immersion and isolation is met. The project celebrates historical lineage, modern ingenuity and respect for our place within nature. This home was in the running for a 2013 Australian Institute of Architects Award. Paul Morgan Architects (03) 9605 4100, www.paulmorganarchitects.com; www.architecture.com.au.
In many parts of the world, residential buildings head skyward, responding to a dense urban environment and developing a unique way of living. In Australia, we tend to sprawl, often simply because we can. When one extended family that owned two neighbouring houses approached Andrew Maynard Architects, the company responded with a unique concept. Wrapped around a central spine, two spaces become one and, in a move uncommon in Australia, the designers introduced a self-imposed footprint restriction, and built the modern addition up, not out. A restrained material palette of cedar and glass allows the form of the building to be clearly read, and accentuates the monolithic shape. A graphic detail of the childlike image of a house, placed atop the external cedar wall, is included as much as a graffiti deterrent as a playful design feature. This home is in the running for a 2013 Australian Institute of Architects National Award. Andrew Maynard Architects (03) 9481 5110, www.maynardarchitects.com; www.architecture.com.au.
A blank canvas for self-expression, our home should be an extension of our character. When vibrant tenants found their luxury property wasn't matching their personality, they enlisted the whimsy of Greg Natale to sync home with heart. The residence, in Sydney's Paddington, was reenvisaged with flamboyance, as a fitting tribute to the owners and their vast art collection. Moments of classic monochrome are met head on in the formal lounge with punchy colour and patterns. Graphic wallpaper demands attention of walls and ceiling, a fitting frame for the plush tufted Baxter sofa and Bowie artwork by Mr Brainwash. The lines of Kelly Wearstler's Tracery rug offset the room's cacophony while adding to the playfulness. This home received a high commendation in the 2013 Australian Interior Design Awards. Greg Natale (02) 8399 2103, www.gregnatale.com; www.australianinteriordesignawards.com.
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