DESIGN & BUILD
AWARDS

Anchored into the site’s rear sloping contours, the Koola residence is a refined assemblage of intersecting volumes, forming a spatial narrative that navigates the thresholds between public openness and private retreat. The formal entry is signified by a monolithic luxury stone feature, standing as a sentinel to the home’s interior world. This element establishes a strong axial presence, while simultaneously delineating the entry from the sunken living zones beyond. Descending from this threshold leads to the main living space—a dramatic double-height volume where the boundaries between kitchen, dining, and lounge dissolve into a seamless continuum. The living space features expansive glazing and multiple entry to the alfresco, while a timber-clad terrace extends towards a landscaped garden and a pool, which is in close proximity to the living space. Above the kitchen counter, a slender strip of windows invites a tactile connection with the garden, placing part of the garden within arm’s reach – be it edible herbs, flowering shrubs, or aromatic plants. Throughout, the design is grounded in a meticulous materiality. Natural timber parquet flooring stretches across the living spaces, imbuing warmth, while veins of natural stone punctuate the interiors with moments of sculptural intensity. Subtle nods to tradition—arched doorways, intricate mouldings, and baffle ceilings—thread a narrative of French elegance, their delicacy counterbalanced by the residence’s clean, contemporary lines.

Built upon the foundation of its predecessor, the Murdoch Residence seamlessly blends traditional charm with modern sophistication. The site’s history played a key role, as it was previously occupied by a 1970s house embedded into the steep slope spanning the property. By retaining the previous home's basement, driveway, and footprint, this approach preserved the site’s character while minimising environmental impact, leading to notable cost and time savings. Upon entry, the expansive double-height living space functions as the heart of the home, seamlessly connecting to the upper mezzanine. The design capitalises on the sloped site and elevated platform, featuring double-height windows free from neighbouring obstructions. Inside, the soft, dappled shadows of tree canopies create a serene interior, offering uninterrupted views and a strong connection to the sky. The open-plan layout, with living areas, pool, and alfresco deck in close proximity, ensures a smooth visual transition throughout the home. The pool reflects light into the living space, creating a captivating interplay of light and water that enhances the sensory experience. This integration of water becomes a key feature of daily life for the residents. The strategically placed lower-floor bedroom caters to multi-generational families, providing a comfortable retreat for older members on the ground level. On the upper floor, each bedroom features private balcony access, with rear balconies offering tranquil views of the surrounding tree canopies. These secluded spaces offer peaceful retreats for relaxation and reflection amidst nature.

The Carcoola residence presents a sophisticated blend of French Provincial architecture, with contemporary design principles. The result is a spatially cohesive and elegantly proportioned home that balances classical detailing with modern functionality. The formal entrance is defined by a dramatic double-height void and a sweeping staircase. Intricately crafted wrought-iron balustrades and a central chandelier establish a sense of grandeur while highlighting the symmetry and spatial hierarchy inherent in the design. The entry is both a statement of formality and an orienting device that anchors the surrounding spaces. The heart of the home is an expansive open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area, carefully curated to foster seamless interaction between spaces. The kitchen, with its marble surfaces and contrasting dark island cabinetry, exudes timeless sophistication while maintaining functional clarity. Horizontal glazing above the countertop frames a direct visual connection to the garden, skilfully blending the interior and exterior spaces. Across the living spaces, smooth stone-look tiles reflect natural light, enhancing the sense of volume while unifying the material palette. Muted tones dominate the interiors, their subtlety accentuated by coffered ceilings and elegant cornices, which lend depth and texture to the minimalist forms. Externally, the residence’s façade reinterprets French Provincial principles with contemporary restraint, characterised by symmetrical columns, arched fenestrations, and articulated mouldings. This carefully ordered composition not only defines the visual identity of the residence but also establishes a dialogue with the landscaped garden and pool area. The interplay between built and natural elements is further emphasised by expansive glazing, blurring the boundary between indoors and out.

Chan Yahl Real Estate Agency had outgrown their previous office space after several years of operation. They sought a new location that would support their expanding needs and offer areas for client engagement and meetings. In designing the office fitout, Kyearn Architecture carefully considered several factors, including the client's brand identity, company culture, functional needs, and desired aesthetic. We understood that branding extends beyond merely placing a logo on the wall. Our goal was to create a cohesive experience that consistently reinforced the agency's brand at every touchpoint. Through detailed discussions with the client, we identified three core design concepts: modern, minimalist, and industrial. Space planning was a key consideration, particularly in working within the existing constraints. The dynamic and interpersonal character of a real estate agency requires a careful balance between openness for networking, and privacy for confidential conversations. The entryway's deep rectangular space is compositionally layered to achieve depth and spaciousness. Between the undulating timber ceiling and polished concrete floor, the open greeting area not only serves as a versatile event and auction space, but effectively frames the reception area beyond. At the rear, the sleek industrial-style glass and metal partition of the meeting room offers a transparent separation without compromising openness. A secondary entrance welcomes staff and clients into an intermediary seating area. This setup accommodates flexible daily work schedules, whether in the office or remote, providing uninterrupted and direct access to office facilities. It seamlessly connects the public auction space with private workspaces and meeting rooms, enhancing the overall flow and functionality. The office’s open-plan work area is supplemented with an unenclosed communal kitchen and casual lounge space. Maintaining transparency and ensuring seamless connectivity between agents as they move throughout the office.

Bardon treetop house is equal parts site response, programmatic brief & the clients desire to connect with the rich surrounding landscape. The site, located close to Brisbane city, is positioned at the base of a heavily vegetated gully. Adorned with a mature leopard tree the house has been carefully positioned to nestle into its tremendous canopy. The entry to the house is directly beside the trunk, deep under the canopy, via the lower levels which are cool, moody and low-lit. As you ascend, you rise-up into the sunshine and reach the upper branches of the tree. The arrival point, a bricked garden courtyard, provides an abundance of natural light and air to the flanking rooms and affords an intimate connection back to the upper branches of the majestic tree. Garden spaces offer sanctuary for the family to gather, converse and stare up at the stars at night. Elsewhere, southern facing light scoops drawdown soft natural-light deep into the plan and provide constant reference to the sky and tree-canopy above. The rear-yard & pool, where new gardens are encouraged to grow wild into the gully, culminates the journey through the house framing a backdrop for family life to carry out.

House in Surry Hills explores a contextually responsive, colourful and experimental home. The design seeks to showcase the beauty and abilities of materials, creating a series of vaulted sculptural pavilions in an urban garden. The original 1880s Victorian terrace, not yet lived in by our clients was in a run-down, uninhabited condition. The roughness, history and 1970s modification of the existing terrace was embraced but generally left unmodified. The living pavilion has been designed as an outdoor room surrounded by gardens. Internal materials use sustainably made bricks, stone tiles and Australian hardwood timbers. A close collaboration with our landscape architect ensured material selections flow effortlessly from the outside to the inside. Colour formed a big part of the design brief from our clients. The use of colour aims to understand how one may experience the home, distinguishing private spaces from public ones – defining the function or personality of a room.

With a footprint little bigger than a pair of double-garages, two 80 sqm houses have been fitted onto an awkward site on sloping land, which many would expect to contain only one. Infilling a narrow inner-city laneway comprising a varied streetscape, including a four-storey apartment building, stepped to reflect the angled subdivision pattern, these replace the original asbestos bungalow with a much denser development without garages, taking advantage of proximity to public transport. The houses are organised with the ‘machines’- bathrooms, kitchens, staircases, rowed against the street, concentrating the main spaces towards the garden. These are capped by a pyramidal roof shading a clerestorey that filters sunlight within throughout the day. The front elevation is therefore highly articulated, expressing the function of each element, creating a legible building from the street. This enhances the streetscape with an active frontage, including a corner window over the entrance to survey the street, that steps in sympathy with its neighbours, echoes nearby elements, and contrasts with the garage doors and apartments opposite. With bedrooms and bathroom below, living area and kitchen above, a garden half-way accommodates the ground slope and forms the visual focus of the home. With carefully formed storage bulkheads, the section is further developed to block sightlines from the six neighbouring houses to the rear. Framing discrete views into the garden, distant trees and sky, the resulting openings contribute a spaciousness and grandeur that belies the compactness of these homes which are private yet transparent, despite being cheek-by-jowl with neighbours.

The South Yarra House presents as a bold, impenetrable object. Deceptively simple in form, its robust materiality provides a protective shield for the inhabitants and delicate sculpural gestures within. The journey through the house is shaped by the sense of compression and expansion.

Our brief was to build a home that fosters a sense of connection and closeness within the family and stimulates an awareness of the greater world outside of self. A semi-permeable KLD space connects the wings and opens up to the southeast/northwest while maintaining shading from the late summer sun. Sightlines through the building were important to maintain a visual connection to the landscape, as was direct access for as many rooms as possible. A sense of lightness was created by lifting the building off the ground and lifting the living space roof and fully opening on each side, which was contrasted with the heaviness and anchoring of the rammed earth walls. The wings either side were separated via use. To one side was the family sleeping zone with direct access to the outdoor shower at the far end. The other contained the carport, mudroom and guest/office.

Ferrars & York is a six-storey, 22-unit apartment building in South Melbourne, with a strong sustainability and community focus. Located 100m from South Melbourne Market, adjacent to the light rail line, the building is powered by 100% renewable energy and presents best practice in climate resilient design and construction. Designed for the long term, with quality and durability in mind, low impact, responsibly sourced products and materials have been selected. Design features such as open walkways and a communal roof yard with fireplace and BBQ provide spaces that promote quality interactions and a sense of belonging. A thoughtfully designed landscape and ground floor create connection to the street and add activity to the precinct. Ferrars & York has an exceptional average energy rating of 8.6 stars, which means more comfort for occupants due to consistent air temperatures, better acoustic performance, significantly lower energy bills and a lower carbon footprint.

On a steep and densely forested hill overlooking Hinsby Beach, three rectangular structures assembled like tree branches that fall down the hill and pile on top of one another. Utilising prefabricated elements the main house consists of two of the “branches” stacked at a right angle, with the third, an art studio, separated by an outdoor deck. Segmentation of the house allows expansion and contraction according to the number and needs of occupants, reducing conditioned floor area and thus reducing energy usage. Cantilevering forms create openings between the structures and the hillside, offering pathways for local wildlife and a concealed entry for the main house, below the upper floor. Interior spaces feature a dark timber palette amplifying the activity of the bushland surrounding the house, while the dwelling is wrapped in a prefabricated timber window system, minimising steel and maximising the connection to the powerful Derwent River.

Occupying a corner site, a north facing, end row semi-detached residence is re-imagined to make the most of its site’s northerly-aspect and enjoy city district views not previously seen. Communal family spaces fan around the outdoor terrace and garden, to make the most of sunlight and seabreezes, forging a fluid relationship between interiors and garden, whilst utilising remnant areas to best advantage.

With its undulating roof inspired by ocean swells and framed views of Sydney Heads, Mosman House by Nick Kent Design and interior designer Louise Walsh is defined by both its bold architectural expression and meticulous interior details. Located just under ten kilometers from the city, the home feels secluded, thanks to its orientation, which maximizes panoramic views and embraces the lush native vegetation surrounding it.

As an artistic architectural response to Australia’s coastline and the contours of the rural landscape, Peninsula House forms a dramatic sculptural relic, weathered by its context. The dwelling is located on the high point of the site overlooking a coastal stretch of Flinders with Bass Strait beyond. Approached along a meandering driveway, a ribbon of rammed earth rises monumentally 10 meters into the air, wrapping behind the dwelling, before gradually tapering and returning to the landscape. The elevation has minimal glazing and considerable thermal mass – stabilising the heat from the afternoon sun. A notch midway along the wall, forms a shadow line, subtly defining the entry. Crossing the entry threshold, a lush, planted atrium defines the building’s axial centre, and allows natural light to flood into the interior. Bending hallways snake from the atrium to create three distinct zones – a living zone for entertaining, a bedroom zone, and a recreation zone. The private master bedroom sits above the living zone, accessed by a sweeping stair cloaked in darkness. The main double height living space dramatically rises towards the glazing and the expansive views of the rural terrain and ocean. The sweeping parabolic ceiling affords a unique acoustic quality to the space that accommodates the sound from the owner’s grand piano and collection of musical instruments. Adjacent to the main living space is a large, sheltered terrace fulfilling the client’s brief to host grand poolside events with views of the valley and water. Each of the five bedrooms and main living spaces celebrates views of the rural context and surrounds. At the end of an evocative hallway, lined on one side with rammed earth and slot windows, lies a purpose-built recording studio. The dark, natural external material palette of charred timber and rammed earth shrouds the building, selected for its robust and low-maintenance qualities. The charred battens cloak the building mass allowing it to recede into the rural context as an enigmatic form. Internally the thematic quality of darkness continues with black mosaic tiles, black timber battens, blackened brass, and black terrazzo flooring. There is an emphasis on the shifting nature of light and shadow along curving surfaces and forms of walls and openings. The monochromatic tones frame views of the natural colours present in the surrounding setting. Peninsula House is envisioned in the round, to sit harmoniously in the topography of its site – its raw sculptural language belying its domestic use – an erosional remnant formed by its harsh, exposed coastal setting.

Pool House allowed us to re-imagine the way a family could live both now and into the future by transforming the client’s existing property into a multi-generational home for life. The project gave us a unique opportunity to overcome the shortfalls of older style terrace housing with a modern, context-sensitive development. The priority was to bring as much light as possible into living spaces while also connecting to year-round, usable outdoor space. To achieve this, the generous, open plan living area was elevated to the first floor, allowing the client to gain access to incredible views, natural light and cooling breezes in the warmer months. The swimming pool was located adjacent to an existing first floor terrace area that was previously under-utilised, bathing it in light and seamlessly connecting it to the living area. Bedrooms were positioned on the ground level to enhance thermal stability and privacy while the double car space was positioned off the rear laneway, adjacent to a new internal entry lobby. Externally, sensitive use of scale and detail allows the house to sit comfortably within the surrounding Victorian heritage, ensuring compatibility with the existing streetscape while offering a uniquely contemporary way of approaching life in the inner-city.

Located in a rural setting south of Canberra, Kampung Batu Bigga is a meticulously crafted rammed earth sanctuary, a joint vision between architect and outdoors enthusiast owner. Grounded in a profound love for the bush, this residence seamlessly integrates with its scenic surroundings, reminiscent of a bushwalking hut. The intentional modesty of the home’s footprint encompasses compact private spaces, with a shared living space under the distinctive roof form. The design pays homage to Australia’s bush construction history with rammed earth and Zincalume cladding, and it carefully wraps the contours, with a wing like roof extending to shelter outdoor spaces. Sandstone ‘wind’ walls protect against prevailing winds; and sustainability is embodied throughout with onsite harvesting of rainwater, energy and waste processing. From the outdoor kitchen to serene internal spaces, Kampung Batu Bigga harmonises architecture and occupants with nature, exemplifying a thoughtful blend of design, sustainability, and connection to the Australian bush.

Sapling represents the pinnacle of sustainability in construction, operation and livability. Designed to achieve the prestigious Passivhaus Premium certification, Sapling is an architecturally striking home for a growing family, which through the implementation of Passivhaus principles and the installation of solar panels produces more energy than it demands. It provides year-round thermal comfort for its inhabitants, while preserving the indoor-outdoor lifestyle they treasure. Originally designed around two mature trees- a Jacaranda and a Cheese Tree- the unexpected felling of the Cheese Tree due to structural defects has made way for the planting of a new sapling in its place. Sapling itself echoes this transition, breathing new life into the site and serving as an example of an alternate, more efficient means of building, growing and thriving in the inner west suburbs of Sydney. Oriented to the north, Sapling encircles the site's existing Jacaranda, capturing and controlling sunlight and daylight access through passive design means and high performance windows and glazing. Operable glazing throughout the ground and first floors of the home allow for passive ventilation and cooling when conditions allow, while a high level of airtightness and a heat recovery ventilation system (HRV) provides ample fresh air when conditions necessitate the closing of windows and doors. Sapling's Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) structure, wrapped in woodfibre insulation and Weathertex and Abodo cladding ensures that the sustainable ethos of this dwelling continues to its core, resulting in a negative Global Warming Potential of approximately -0.03kg CO2 eq. Sapling's CLT core is accompanied by high performance and low impact products, materials and finishes including low VOC paints, benchtops utilising recycled materials, cork flooring, cork and rubber stair lining, recycled timber window reveals and carbon neutral concrete. The home provides a sanctuary for its inhabitants; a healthy home that supports their health and well-being, while minimising its impact on the environment. The initial brief was for a major renovation or to create a new home on an existing site in the inner west. Originally occupied by a small weatherboard cottage, the clients were fast out-growing the space they had and found the home to be quite uncomfortable thermally. Views of the city skyline available from the site were to be captured and capitalised upon, and the existing mature trees were to inform the design. Sustainable initiatives such as solar passive design were to be employed to greatly reduce the home's dependency on air conditioning, and as much water and electricity as possible was to be produced onsite. A new pool and rear deck were to encourage indoor-outdoor living while engaging with the existing Jacaranda tree in the rear garden. Additionally, low and 0-VOC products and finishes were to be utilised wherever possible within the home. Sapling's design has been determined through a combination of traditional solar passive principles and informed modelling provided through the Passivhaus certification process. Achieving Passivhaus Premium performance, the home is predicted to remain comfortable and generate surplus energy over its lifetime. The well-insulated walls, floor and roof work in tandem with the high performance glazing to maintain stable conditions indoors without a reliance on air conditioning. The materials chosen and their detailing have been specified to endure, and the home's 20.88 pkW solar panel array and Tesla battery have been installed to ensure that the home is as self-sufficient as possible over the long term, relieving pressure off the grid. - Alexandra Woods, Project Architect

East West House draws inspiration from Eastern cultural values within a contemporary Western setting. Initial conversations with the client explored an understanding of their time spent living and working in Asia and their connection to Asian cultural values. Our design response was to interpret the traditional concept of the Siheyuan, or courtyard house within an Australian suburban context as part of the brief resolution to value outdoor space as much as indoor space. The design centres around the internal courtyard, seamlessly integrating the home with its surroundings while also emanating a feeling of privacy and seclusion from the outside world.

Positioned in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak, Nareeb House is a modern inspired architectural home designed and built by AGUSHI. Built on a corner block of 740sq m, this predominantly single level house sits above an underground basement and is made up of four bedrooms, each with ensuites, three living areas, a study, five car garage and resort styled terrace and pool garden. The Nareeb House was built for siblings to share as they pursue their respective careers, and for their international-based parents to keep as an Australian home for their regular visits. The house is to also satisfy the role of a generational home for future grandchildren and extended family as their family continues to grow.

The Cape Schanck house is a family home designed as a refuge from the harsh coastal environment. A series of courtyard spaces enable the house to be enjoyed throughout the year. The project balances bold form-making with a series of quieter gestures that aim to embed the building in its context and create a sense of serenity and connection to the landscape. The kitchen is at the centre of the house with the main living areas radiating off this central zone. A second living area in the north/west (family) wing can be closed off as needed. Guest bedrooms are accessed via dramatic dark corridors that also contain the powder-room and a dramatic staircase descending to the wine cellar, garage & laundry. The master bedroom wing to the south east is open to views across the landscape in both directions. Contained within is a timber-lined study, that utilises hidden doors to add a layer of privacy & retreat as needed. Throughout the project, simple forms and carefully refined material junctions create a series of interior spaces that evoke a sense of tranquillity. The material palette blends seamlessly between internal and external spaces with a sense of permanence evoked through a range of natural materials and textures selected to age and weather gracefully. All surfaces that the user touches or interacts with on the project are in timber, metal, stone or leather. The design of the interior creates a sense of refuge and a connection to the natural environment but comfortably balances dual uses as both a quiet place to escape the city but also as a more social place to congregate, celebrate and embrace family life. The project provides a cohesiveness in the design language that is reflected across a range of scales. From the architecture & interior design to the custom door hardware, dining table & light fittings, all created specifically for the project. This lends the project a unique feeling of clarity which further contributes to the sense of calm that pervades the interior.

A new Northern Beaches residence looking north-easterly over Curl Curl Beach. The living areas connect to both the garden and a large entertaining terrace, oriented to catch the sun, sea breezes and ocean views. The solid, timber clad form of the bedroom level is juxtaposed with the open, glass walled living level below. A lower garage and entry level provides plenty of storage and utility areas.

Shoreham House reimagines a mid-century beach house by renovating and extending an existing bluestone cottage, elevating coastal living upwards into the tree canopy. The cottage renovation retains its original simplicity, while a recessive dark envelope wraps the extension to reveal a warm, timber tree house within.

Conceptual inspiration for a house centred around a galley was drawn from the experience of our Clients life when they lived on board a narrowboat in the UK. Our clients loved that every aspect of their boat was highly considered, every space utilised. This project speaks to two types of home-coming. The macro, coming home from living overseas with a broader perspective and experiences, and the micro, the daily rhythms and flow of coming and going from home. Environmental consciousness starts with an understanding that the easier it is ride, the more we do it and this home is planned specifically to facilitate this. Ensuring every centimetre is utilised, avoids excess. Reuse of original building fabric minimises waste. New materials were selected for longevity and recyclability. Active and passive measures include solar and rainwater harvesting, considered orientation and ventilation. This home is designed to expressly connect with our community through carefully graduated external and internal spaces. The design supports everyday interactions with the neighbourhood as a reminder that that we are part of a greater whole, encouraging us to look outside of ourselves.

This dual occupancy project features a contemporary design that blends seamlessly with the surrounding architecture through its facade, roof, and material selection. The exterior combines rendered brick veneer with light and dark grey aluminum cladding, accented by large windows that enhance transparency and reduce visual mass. Inside, the open-plan layout connects the living, dining, and kitchen areas, emphasizing simplicity, functionality, and natural light. With marble countertops, minimalist furniture, and warm-toned wooden flooring, the design creates a harmonious balance between modern elegance and cozy, high-quality living. This development also plays a role in addressing the housing challenges in NSW by promoting efficient land use through dual occupancy. By offering a practical solution to increase housing density without compromising on design or comfort, it contributes to creating more affordable and sustainable living options in the community

Situated on the busy foreshore strip between Brighton and Hove…number 106a is very much in the public eye. A private residence on display to the ‘hub-dub’ of daily beachside life. Presenting itself to the street and coast, it opens its doors and does not shy away. breaking down the formalised ‘edge’ of the building envelope… pushing and pulling, it blurs between two domains. As part of the steady redevelopment of the Adelaidean foreshore, number 106a, doesn’t try to be beachy, it plants it feet firmly and says, hey ‘look at me’…I’m a little bit different!... a home that both watches and is there to be watched…‘not a beach house’ but a beachside home… engineer > pt design landscaper > greenwell landscapes stylist > mazmis

number 14 captures the lifestyle of the young family that calls it home, asserting itself amongst the traditional housing typology of a leafy Adelaidean streetscape. Keeping within its context by subtly nodding its head to the original bungalow that previously occupied the site. The monochromatic combination of texture and form, simultaneously stand watch over the street, beckoning one to explore what’s inside. number 14 reveals itself as a striking, bold contemporary house but within, is a warm and inviting home to an amazing young family! Making day-to-day living easy, this is a place where partners, grandchildren and friends will always feel welcome, both today and in the years to come! light, shadowplay, textured surfaces, and massed forms are balanced with natural stone, warming leather tones and inviting fabrics, producing a series of spaces that slip effortlessly from task-to-task… warm leather tones balance a cooler palette through a combination of loose and built-in furniture. Veined dolomite brings a dynamic flare to the formal volumetric structure… engineer - meinhardt group landscaper - mark barnett gardens images - christopher morrison stylist - mazmis

Shed House sets a new standard for flexible living in a suburban setting. This project skillfully combines the client's living and working spaces, striking a balance between the two while ensuring adaptability in each area. The ground floor features an open layout with minimal walls and structure. Spaces are arranged around a central courtyard, allowing for versatile configurations that can accommodate both business and leisure activities. The upper floor houses the main living areas, with the kitchen, dining, and living rooms oriented towards the courtyard, while bedrooms are positioned at the corners. This inward-focused design ensures privacy and comfort within a typical suburban site. In the context of rising material and labor costs, Shed House embraces standard construction methods and materials, featuring a corrugated steel facade that is both evocative and cost-effective. A covered verandah leads to a traditional front door, but the true connection to the street is created by large, retractable doors at the front and back of the building, enabling a permeable layout. Structural Engineering by Cantilever

Canvas redefines apartment living in suburban Brisbane, blending urban sophistication with suburban tranquility. The architecture of Canvas adopts a neighbourhood centred, landscape led approach that draws connections between an organic form and the characteristic street trees of Bulimba. The curved concrete exterior imparts a sense of substance and symbolises a meticulous effort to form living spaces that seamlessly integrate with the landscape. The project addresses density while prioritising the importance of interior and communal design elements, such as the engineered internal staircase enhancing light, ventilation, and access within the spaces. The rooftop, recognised as a prime opportunity for amenity provision, stands out as a communal retreat. A collaborative approach with consultants is evident in the meticulous formation of the staircase and concrete formwork. Canvas transcends conventional suburban developments, embodying a unique blend of architectural innovation, thoughtful design, and community centric living that sets a new standard for contemporary suburban apartment living. Property Projects Australia, Urbis, OSKA Consulting, Seed Engineers, Naxos, Bradicich Engineers, Chilton Woodward, BDA Fire, Auscoast Fire Services, Building Certification Consulting, Cyber Energy, TTM

Replacing an existing bungalow on a suburban block in North Bondi, this new family house is located on the sandy flat that runs from the beach through to Sydney Harbour at Rose Bay. The surroundings are relatively dense for suburban Sydney with the site sharing boundaries with a mix of housing types, posing a significant challenge in terms of privacy. The house is carefully planned around a series of courtyards with dense planting to help filter these neighbouring conditions. The ground floor living rooms open up onto several distinct garden spaces that bring light and ventilation deep into the plan while the upper level relies on the use of fiberglass screens to ensure privacy to the bedrooms. Behind these screens, gardens provide a softness to this strategy and the overall materiality of the house that references the red brick houses and apartment buildings common to the suburb.

This alteration and addition to a single-fronted Victorian house seeks to counter the experience of living on a narrow, inner-city site by designing an open and generous home that seems to extend into the treetops of the neighbours’ gardens. The addition captures deliberate and carefully composed views of landscape and is inspired by concepts of the walled garden and the borrowed garden. A masonry wall traces around the edges of the site to the rear and defines the interior and exterior spaces of the new, north-facing addition. This continuous built edge undulates a bit like a landscape element, expanding and contracting along the northern boundary to frame a fireplace, storage and nooks for seating, before changing course and folding into the interior to define the kitchen. The walled garden is compact but cleverly integrated into the floor plan. A glass wall with sliding doors is a protective layer through the middle of the ground floor, enclosing living spaces without visually separating them from the adjacent garden. A long kitchen organises activity within the open-plan living area. Beyond the garden walls, views of the surrounding treetops allow the owners to delight in the experience of a borrowed garden. Externally, profiled hardwood cladding in a charcoal finish appears delicate. Openings are articulated with a geometry drawn from the shape of the Victorian awnings found on neighbouring houses. Upstairs, a small north-facing balcony projects out from the main bedroom and is reminiscent of a ship’s bridge. Framing selected views of the surrounding trees and rooflines, it playfully suggests the moment when an enormous shipping container is glimpsed through the narrow gaps between small bayside cottages.

Trellis Apartments are a collection of considered homes set within the historic and urban neighbourhood of Subiaco. Inspired by the relationship between people, light and shade, home and neighbourhood, this progressive building will set a new benchmark in architectural design in Western Australia. Taking a focus on livability and connections between residents and the built environment at its core. The proposed development varies in height from two storeys to five storeys. Through the extensive design process we redistributed building mass within the compliant building envelope away from the neighbouring buildings and to the North-Eastern corner of the site. This allows for the proposed building envelope to step up from two storeys to five, forming a more sympathetic transition between existing neighbouring building heights and improving solar access to adjacent properties. Sustainability is an integral part of the vision for Trellis Apartments, with the implementation of numerous initiatives to set the development apart from industry standards. Including a number of car bays dedicated to electric vehicle charging, encouraging future residents to embrace more environmentally sustainable methods of transportation. Integrated bicycle storage facilities are also proposed to further facilitate alternative modes of transport. Our intention is for Carter Lane to raise the bar for apartment design, the integration of landscaping and open space into the proposal is key to this. We envisage the building as an extension of the adjacent ‘green spine’ that runs through Subi Centro, with mature trees and extensive planting located across the façade and also throughout the central courtyard. The open central courtyard allows for light and landscaping to permeate into the buildings heart, and also fosters a sense of community through the connectivity experienced by residents in the open space. The ‘open-ness’ of this courtyard allows for all 25 units in the development to be fully cross ventilated, reducing the reliance on air-conditioning to cool apartments, adhering to the sustainable principles that underpin the project. Additionally, no two apartments in the development are the same, reinforcing the concept that owners will live in a unique home within a benchmark community.

Fossil House is located across from the O’Connor Ridge bushland on a street with a legacy of mid-century architect designed homes. Taking cues from the site context, both landscape and architecture, a contemporary house rises out of the earth with its fossil-coloured block base. It is confident in scale yet calm in materiality. Working with a challenging sloping site, the north facing internal spaces are segmented into a series of interconnected levels that step up with the site, each level visually connected to the next. Every space is modestly scaled yet generous through their relationships with each other. Fossil House deliberately ignores convention and design trends in its pursuit to be at one with its context. It delivers a warm and homely environment that supports connectedness for its occupants. Net zero carbon credentials, high quality construction, and thoughtful material selection will allow this house to stand the test of time.

Main Beach House is a bold expression of form and materiality. The building form is designed around a courtyard that allows internal spaces to maximise views to the landscape courtyard and water views to the Broadwater. The project explores the use of concrete, brick and timber screening enabling the resident and visitor to experience the natural quality of these raw materials. The bold concrete form contrasts against a series of moveable and operable timber screens. The moving timber screens allows the house to be open or closed for privacy and sunshading, creating an ever-changing facade pattern. The project aspires to create a series of interior sequential spaces that change in scale, experience and varied light whilst always providing a visual relationship to the external landscape grounds. The consistent interior and exterior materiality along with the bespoke interior cabinetry provides a hard lined architecture that is softened against the soft landscape palette.

This project, located in the serene suburb of North Turramurra, is a DA-approved development that thoughtfully preserves the existing mature trees and respects the natural conditions of the site. By integrating a carefully curated selection of native plants, the garden not only enhances the natural beauty of the area but also promotes biodiversity and sustainability. Our design prioritizes creating a practical yet visually captivating space that complements the unique character of the North Shore, offering an inviting and eco-friendly environment for both residents and visitors to enjoy

Black Box at Malvern is a sculpted contemporary container addition designed for our client’s ever-changing art collection. An extension to a 1920’s bungalow, new built form has been defined in black steel and brick, distinctly contrasting the existing, white-painted brick and render. Never seeking to blend or match, the black contrasts in both form and colour. An existing Willow Myrtle, its gnarled, knobbly trunk and contrasting feathery foliage was retained and helped inform a design response that saw the eventual floorplate hold tight to the existing home, extending laterally across the site rather than stretching towards the rear, savouring the tree. The home addition stands bold in black, with a sense of formality through its structured container form, offset with a softer interior palette. The result is a home reminding our clients that beyond a canvas for artwork, the space is also, and more importantly, a canvas for family life.

Major transformation of a 1920s bungalow Inspired by Saul Ratner's unwavering commitment to quality and artistry, we approached this project with a profound sense of responsibility. Our mission was clear: to meticulously restore and preserve the original trims, ceilings, and features of this historic home while seamlessly blending them with contemporary design elements. Navigating the intricate geometry of this project demanded meticulous planning and precision. Every corner, pitched wall, and ceiling had to align perfectly, with most meeting at an exact point, demanding a deep understanding of design, materials, and construction methods. Our collaboration with Plus Minus Design and Cantilever Engineers ensured that the project seamlessly translated design intent into structural reality.

Corner House is an exploration of intersections, the project signified a profound moment of change in their lives, marking their retirement from respective architectural careers and a relocation from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula. They wanted a home that would facilitate a new chapter that prioritised both their connection and independence. Practically speaking, they wanted two bedrooms and two bathrooms, the capacity to work from home, ample shelving for their extensive design library and beautiful spaces to showcase their art collection. With one of the clients being a UK expat, prior to COVID, they expected family and friends to regularly visit, so it was important to include an area that would provide guests with a sense of their own space where they could comfortably stay for an extended period of time.

Breathe has joined forces with Four Pillars Gin to create a new, immersive gin experience in their birthplace, Healesville. Born and raised in this stunning part of the Yarra Valley surrounded by mountains, temperate rainforest, oaks, and elms, throughout the design we acknowledge Four Pillars’ origin, their history, and their deep connection to the place where it all began. While nearly tripling the capacity for visitors, the expansion delivers a much-needed new production space, an outdoor gin garden, tuckshop, dedicated gin shop, a custom-built bar, and events space cementing Four Pillars as the largest gin-focussed distillery in Australia. The new distillery was designed not just to increase production capacity, but also to champion Four Pillars’ future, taking their place on the world stage as a global leader in quality, craft, gin. It is a place where curious visitors and connoisseurs alike can engage with the entire distillation and bottling process while enjoying an exceptional food and beverage experience. Importantly, this project will see Four Pillars continue their commitment to sustainability and community with the implementation of new sustainability initiatives and the creation of countless local jobs.⁠⁠ The design helped Four Pillars become Australia’s first carbon-neutral gin business. All new works are 100% fossil fuel free. Sustainability is embedded from the copper veil, the 100 kW solar rooftop, the recycled masonry throughout to a restrained and crafted natural material palette that infuses hints of nature into this exceptional distillery installation. Ongoing waste minimisation was important to the project. All steel, concrete, and timber waste was recycled during construction. None of the excavation went to landfill. Gin is piped directly into the main bar from production through featured copper pipes that will see the site save 29 tonnes of glass per year. This project sees Four Pillars create an energetic hospitality destination to complement their incredible spirit.

The site was a never built upon piece of land situated beachfront at Culburra. The landscape is windswept, with low native foliage with a large setback to the beach consisting of planted sand dunes. Following the recent bush fires that raged down the south coast, the site was categorised as an FZ zone; this imposed many constraints on the design in terms of materials. The aim was to preserve the landscaped area between the beach and the house; to combat erosion by preserving the sandbanks and introduce more indigenous flora to support the system that already exists. The site has an extraordinary view of the sea and sky. The shapes of the trees are bent over and distorted by constant winds along the coast. The design of the house responds to this with a roof shape that sweeps up and flattens towards the beach. The idea was that when viewed from the beach the house would sit back into the landscape rather than making a statement. It is a house that becomes a safe retreat and a place of serenity amidst the storm.

This house embraces its family of five, its context, its courtyard and its north western orientation. The tight corner site is bounded by a heavily trafficked street to the south and a secondary street to the west carrying slow moving cars and beachgoing foot traffic. A pair of handsome contemporary town houses sit to the north of the site while a three storey interwar apartment block running the full length of the eastern boundary is screened by conifers. The original house was poorly oriented, could not accommodate the required amenity and the family’s needs and had no architectural merit. Our primary strategy was to open the house and the courtyard to the north western light and sky. The living spaces address the courtyard offering direct visual and physical connections to the garden and pool. This open facade is contrasted with the more shielded southern and western façades protecting the occupants from the busy street noise and overlooking. Orienting the house to the north west to take advantage of open sky and district views raises issues of potential excessive solar gain and privacy due to pedestrians using the access to the bay. A fine screen projecting 1500mm from the main façade was conceived for the upper level to address this. A carefully articulated projecting frame in combination with solid ellipsoid horizontal and perforated vertical electrically operated louvres provided the optimum solution, ensuring sustainability and amenity goals are met. The frame also offers shading to the ground level and contributes to façade articulation. The building is carefully articulated using a combination of low carbon concrete both insitu and precast, thermally modified plantation timber cladding, rendered masonry and mosaic tiles. The first floor projects marginally beyond the ground floor base and is further reduced in scale using the timber cladding and high level glazing. Copper edge capped and timber lined eaves, projecting window boxes. a concrete entry canopy and a roof terrace embraced by snaking mosaic tiled walls complete the composition. The crafted built form successfully addresses the corner, respectfully engages with its neighbours, and contributes to the public domain by greatly improving the streetscape and the pedestrian experience. Setbacks allowing for garden spaces in the public domain offer further enhancement along the site’s edges. The complexities of the site demanded expertise from a small army of subconsultants however the collaboration with our industrial designers to resolve, fine tune and construct the projecting operable louvred screens was critical to the project. This required two sets of construction contractors operating on site at the same time and a successful delivery is a testament to the teamwork. The planning is highly resolved functionally and spatially, given the program required multiple spaces in a reasonably small footprint. The spatial quality is such that each room provides the requisite level of function, comfort, and joy. The material and elemental selections are high quality, robust and responsible. It is a house that successfully accommodates an active young family unit which will serve them for decades to come design architects / andy harding & andrew stanic project team / rasmus lund, binghi lamerton, sven bjerkhamn interior design, furniture + soft furnishings / Interni pty ltd project team/ louise bell, shane gogan, vick hon briggs, laura staude builder/ toki constructions pty ltd industrial designers/ TILT Industrial Design pty ltd joiner/ blank joinery landscape/ dangar barren smith electrical/ rylec pty ltd planner/ laura reid, mersonn pty ltd photography/ nicholas watt, andy harding

Laced beneath the tree canopies of Castlecrag is a network of meandering pathways that find their way along the rocky platforms and outcrops of the peninsula. Places to linger and be drawn to the views across fingers of green water. It was this experience of walking the site that inspired a house designed to encourage pause and reflection- a continual discovery of and connection to place. The house prioritises the elemental qualities of prospect and refuge whilst balancing the requirements of a young family. Establishing a strong, grounded connection to the site and its intimate native garden, the house opens to the distant horizon, intermediating between these two opposing aspects.

The masterplan and sustainable housing strategy for this new residential precinct – located just 2km from Dubbo’s CBD – to accommodate 15,000 residents. Promoting a range of sustainable housing types and welcoming streetscapes, the NW precinct supports walkability, housing diversity and protection of the natural landscape. Through a collaborative process with Traditional Owners and local Council, it sets a new standard for an inclusive, sustainable, culturally respectful, unique and connected village.

With outdoor entertaining with family and friends being the key driving force behind this garden design we set about creating 3 highly functional, minimalist and paired back garden zones with in this small courtyard space. The first being directly off the home with a covered lounge area and deck with an Eco Smart fireplace providing seamless indoor-outdoor integration from then main living hub of the town house. The second was the outdoor kitchen zone and dining space that is flanked by the feature concrete bench seat and raised fire pit making the third functional element. Pushing functionality aside we also created the bespoke, floating concrete water feature boasting the stunning Sculptura sphere that has become the heart and soul of this garden courtyard. With bold yet simple and well defined forms this courtyard maintains a sense space, scale and grounding while providing intimacy, high aesthetic impact and all year usability.

The Boulevard is a four bedroom home that embraces, enhances and extends the ecosystem of the surrounding environment. The garden and the surrounding environment were important to ensure their children can develop a relationship with nature while living 20 minutes from the city. Throughout the design process we asked ourselves how can we maximise the surrounding landscape? The result is a house that’s predominantly underground, overcoming the challenge of a steep topography by building into the hillside, concealing the structure as much as possible, and using the garden to extend the environment of the Yarra Flats into the site. From the garage and roof-top guest parking at the top of the site, winding landscape stairs with adjacent stone channel water feature descends through foliage to the entry hall, which is lined with windows looking out over the back garden. The kitchen is to the left, with dual island benchtops and a dining area that extends to a living-room. An internal courtyard provides afternoon light and connects to the roof garden through a tall gumtree. From the entry to the right, a hallway leads to a rumpus room, and then on to the private wing – the master bedroom with ensuite, and stairs down to the lower level that consists of a bathroom, laundry and the three children’s bedrooms. The separation between the upper and lower bedrooms will increase in importance as the children age and independence grows. This private wing of the house extends out from the hillside. It is not hidden under landscape, instead a gabled roof references the idea of what a house looks like in a child’s mind. The roof is covered with stone slate tiles, a response to a local covenant that creates a connection between the houses of the neighbourhood.

A modern interpretation of the traditional barn-style home, with a focus on creating a comfortable, functional, and sustainable family home that would meet the needs of a modern family today while having flexibility to adapt to changing needs over time. Site This home takes full advantage of its beachfront location, with sweeping private views of the ocean and plenty of natural light. There is plenty of space for entertaining and relaxation both inside and out with features such as the covered outdoor area to provide shade and protection from the elements. Exterior From the first glance, you will be struck by the home's elegant and detailed exterior. The Monument Colorbond, Blackbutt shiplap and Overland bricks are a perfect blend of contemporary style and rustic charm. The 'popout' cantilevered window adds a unique and stylish touch, creating an inviting and warm entry for guests. The outdoor stairs, screens, gates, and panels are stylish and durable, adding to the overall beauty of the exterior design. Interior The interior of the home is equally impressive. The flooring in the bedrooms, robes, study, and stairs features a luxurious and comfortable carpet, while the kitchen, dining, living, and adjoining hall feature a beautiful and durable Tasmanian Oak overlay flooring. The reclaimed Tasmanian oak ceiling in the living room adds character and warmth to the space. The kitchen features clean and modern lines with beautiful Tasmanian oak accents.

Located on the central coast of NSW, next to the Boudii National Park and with views down to Maitland Bay across the surrounding native bushland, this new house for a young family resolves the difficulties of a sloping site, bushfire regulations and also a site compressed between neighboring properties. The plan is a careful negotiation between these constraints while providing for living spaces that capture northern light and the views, as well sensitively responding to the ecology of site and the adjacent properties. Constructed from brick, the building form is defined by two wings that frame the entry sequence, some mature angophora trees and a protected flat outdoor area for the children to play. Between the two, a linking breezeway is totally operable. The upper level with its form slightly offset from that below, holds bedrooms and study. Against the northern site edge, a sunken lounge room serves as a retreat, while on the southern edge, living spaces run in a linear progression from living, kitchen and dining spaces all with northern orientation. The house can also be split in two in summer with folding doors sliding away and flyscreen’s drawn out as required. The overall form is robust and protecting but also porous and able to be opened up as required.

Conceived as a brick villa, James Street is located on an overshadowed and compact site, on the urban rim of Launceston’s colonial streetscapes. The condition of the tight site, topography, and the presence of a century-old walnut tree is resolved in a strategy of walled courtyards, terraces, and volumes which abut the street edge. From the street, walled courtyards elongate the entry sequence into the private realm. Quieter, immersive needs are oriented toward the light of walled courtyard gardens. Elevated brick terraces and gardens allow for measured access to sunlight and aspect, and create daily connections to the streetscape. The walnut tree is used as a seasonal hinge for the composition of these courtyards and rooms, around which the interior volumes and gardens coalesce. This offers an unanticipated sense of expansion to the interiors, which is magnified by a subdued and dark palette that lofts towards the higher volumes.

The garden features white-rendered bench seating, providing a clean and elegant look. This seating is perfectly complemented by a silver and blue planting scheme, which includes feature olive trees and dwarf date palm trees, adding a touch of Mediterranean charm. Detailed crazy paving enhances the unique appeal of this stylish retreat, adding texture and visual interest to the garden. The combination of these elements creates a serene and inviting atmosphere, making it the perfect place to relax and unwind.

The design redefines the retail space and circulation to create a close connection with the urban surrounding. The retail and office façade enhancement delivers a more contemporary interface of the complex. The design links the piazzas with iconic canopies, creating a multi-layered retail space and connected circulation.

Lunar’s design fosters a connection to nature and with neighbours, creating a lighter-density experience for residents that appropriately responds to the needs and wants of the local market.

Triangular Twin House Concept is a captivating architectural design that presents innovative spatial organization and aesthetics.

The emphasis on low maintenance, energy efficiency, and off-grid design in this house truly reflects a commitment to sustainable living and self-sufficiency. By prioritizing these aspects, the homeowners are not only reducing their environmental footprint but also creating a more resilient and cost-effective living space. The meticulous attention to detail in the construction process, particularly evident in the exterior cladding and split-level design, speaks to the craftsmanship and expertise of Hocking Constructions. The inclusion of underfloor heating in all bathrooms and utility areas, as well as the incorporation of a structural steel cabinet for firewood storage, highlights both comfort and functionality. The kitchen stands out as a focal point of the home, with its expansive stone bench and breathtaking views across the valley. The integration of storage solutions, such as timber veneer doors and a floating bookshelf in the library, demonstrates a thoughtful approach to space utilisation. Sustainable features such as rainwater harvesting, solar power, and a backup battery system not only aligns with the client's environmental values but also serves practical purposes, especially in a high-risk bushfire zone. The innovative firefighting system, including roof sprinklers and a remote-controlled petrol pump, further enhances the property's resilience in the face of potential threats.

Verandah Terraces is an additive architectural project which curates the applied periphery of the original pre-1900's Queenslander cottage into the integral imperative of the contemporary complement. There is an intentional immediacy to the structural legibility and expressed tectonics. A build that demonstrates and celebrates its own making and crafting.

The house extends from the road-reserve down to the foreshore, inhabiting both natural bush and beach landscapes.

Their skilled team delivers custom joinery and carpentry solutions with precision and efficiency. They specialize in creating bespoke cabinetry, shelving, doors, and intricate woodwork that perfectly fits the space. Using high-quality materials, they ensure every project meets the client's design vision while maintaining structural integrity. Whether it's a custom kitchen, built-in wardrobes, or elegant wood finishes, they handle it all with attention to detail and a focus on quick turnaround without compromising qualit

A solid forever home of concrete, steel and glass designed to capture water views, northerly sun and north-easterly breezes. A house for a Gold Coast lifestyle. A large structure including an underground Basement, three suspended post tensioned concrete slabs and vertical elements including precast panels, this Project pushes the boundaries with residential design and construction.

The projects they have put into this year have all been of an outstanding quality. The Seaforth Home was a testament to their skill, quality, and diversity that the company can deliver. The use of multiple materials all blended with seamless accuracy and was outstanding.

A well-built home overlooking a golf course. The home had lots of large rooms with high ceilings and great plasterboard work. The tiling on the ground floor and all bathrooms were very well detailed and had been executed to a very high standard.

Zinc standing seam cladding is the hero of the façade with interiors comprised of timber veneer joinery, natural stone, polished plaster and individual passenger lifts to private three car garages.

This residence defies conventional norms with its distinctive and artistic design, departing from traditional shapes. Inspired by the block's distinct contours, the design incorporates angled and curved walls, to fit within the bounds of the irregularly shaped block. The outcome is a deviation from the traditional right angles commonly found in most homes, resulting in a truly bespoke one-of-a-kind home for our clients. Energy efficiency was paramount in the home's design, aiming to maximise winter solar gain and minimise heat loss and summer heat gain. This was achieved through double-glazing on North-facing windows, smaller openable windows to the south, and minimal windows to the west. This residence challenges norms and embraces a greener, brighter future.