Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 160 October 2024 i Houses

Many of the conversations in this issue focus on the retention and reimagining of existing houses. With projects that range from terraced houses to suburban bungalows, the new work is underpinned by a keen examination of what already exists. Pleasingly, this is not just about short-term updates nor a fascination with new: instead, the designs interrogate what changes are needed now, yet are sufficiently loose-fit in anticipation of future modification. Among these stories of adaptation are the carefully made and playfully expressed repair of a heritage cottage in nipaluna/Hobart (Patrick Street by Andrew Campbell and Georgina Russell, page 36); the confident reshaping of an Arts and Crafts residence in Warrane/Sydney, where, as Laura Harding writes, past and present “speak frankly and fearlessly as equals” (Bellevue Hill House by Tribe Studio,…

Jo Bastian champions accessible, nature-loving, socially connective architecture – which her family home, Olive Tree House, so exemplifies that she recently heard a neighbour describe its approachable plan to her young daughter as the pair jogged past. Built on a subdivided corner block in the Newcastle suburb of Stockton, this compact, hardworking, colourful home is literally built around established trees and views to a beach where Jo loves to swim. With its roof garden and street-side deck that connects two living spaces (and functions as a third for much of the year), this house is keen to spark conversations about different ways of living together. Upstairs, private spaces are just that. But at ground level – with active frontages north to the street and west to a sociable laneway, a…

“You always have a chance to change the rules” is a sentiment that seems to underpin Patricia Urquiola’s oeuvre, and it is the undertone of our chat at Mobilia’s Melbourne showroom during her fleeting visit to Australia in 2024. Endlessly curious, Patricia claims: “I don’t see answers, but rather I see questions.” The designer is a delightful conversationalist who indeed posits many questions – rhetorically or directly – during our interview. Patricia was born in Oviedo, Spain in 1961, and founded her Milan-based studio together with her partner, Alberto Zontone, in 2001. Her trailblazing architecture and design career is defined by her pursuit of originality, commitment to human-centric solutions, and passion for craft and material. The studio traverses industrial product design, architecture, art direction and strategy consulting, all guided by…

The first thing you notice about House B – a reworking of an end terrace in Brunswick, Melbourne – is the glass wall running along the side of the house facing the street. This translucent facade reveals brief moments of domesticity – a child running up the stairs, a figure carrying a vacuum – but no faces or discerning detail. Inside the house, this glazed wall lets in light and creates a sense of playful reciprocity with the street. While you may catch the silhouette of a passing cyclist or a neighbour walking their dog, there remains a sense of privacy and containment. House B was designed by Kart Projects directors Martin Musiatowicz and Karen Fermo for Martin’s sister, Karolina, and brother-in-law, Damian. Over seven years, Karolina and Damian –…

Could the answers to our present-day issues of housing affordability, social isolation and sustainability lie in leaving behind Australia’s nostalgic obsession with the freestanding house on a quarter-acre block? Wybalena Grove, a 1970s cooperative housing development in Canberra’s north, gives us some food for thought on how diverse typologies and a community-focused approach might improve how we live. Canberra grew rapidly in the postwar period, and new residents eagerly lined up for their slice of the Australian dream. Thousands relocated to the city during this time to build the fledgling national capital, and this rapid population growth saw an unprecedented program of design and construction from the late 1950s, completed under the watchful eye of the National Capital Development Commission (NCDC). Single dwellings on large blocks remained the norm and,…

Warren Haasnoot Writer Warren is one of the founding partners of Curious Practice, which was established in Newcastle in 2017. He is interested in the way we connect to the environment in both a sustainable and atmospheric sensibility. He enjoys connecting with clients, staff and consultants to create meaningful objects that enrich natural and unnatural territories. Lucia Amies Writer Lucia is a registered architect who has worked across residential and small-scale projects. She is a regular writer, university tutor and critic, and a co-curator of New Architects Melbourne events. She studied at the University of Queensland and the University of Melbourne. Lucia is associate editor of ArchitectureAu. Laura Harding Writer Laura is a Sydney-based designer and critic who has worked with Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects since 1996. Her…

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It seems rare to find clients as courageous as Brigid and Will who, in 2017, saw a strange, subdivided laneway site, laden with rubble and weeds, as an opportunity to create a new home for their family of four. The couple, who were living in an East Melbourne apartment when they discovered the site in nearby Richmond, were realistic about their budget and the financial obstacles that come with reworking an existing home, as opposed to starting from scratch. As Will explains, “We looked at heaps of places that needed a full renovation, but we would never have got what we got here [for the same budget].” Still, it takes a certain kind of vision to see potential in the unconventional. On a site with seven neighbours to contend with,…

The nineteenth-century terrace house, typical of the inner neighbourhoods of southern Australian cities, presents a particular set of challenges to those adapting them to contemporary lifestyles. Their long, narrow and compartmentalised plans preclude many incidental interactions, and their lean-to bathrooms, laundries and outhouses get in the way of precious outdoor space. These challenges are often addressed through significant back-end transformations, which commonly involve demolition and the subsequent creation of new volumes with indoor–outdoor connections. Working in the heavily endowed heritage context of inner Hobart, architects Andrew Campbell and Georgina Russell have charted a different course, opting instead for the resourceful repair and reimagining of the terrace’s fabric, routes and rooms. This is the first joint project by Andrew and Georgina, and it’s a modest one – at its core, it’s…

Opt for elevated fittings Household fixtures and fittings traditionally served a single purpose. A tap would dispense water, a jug would boil the water, and a fridge would chill the water. That changed with the introduction of the highly popular Zip HydroTap. Zip Water’s latest product release, the HydroTap Celsius Plus All-In-One Pull-Out, offers the same functionality and clutter-free bench solution but in an elegant, contemporary form. Designed to be a sculptural feature within a kitchen, its graceful gooseneck spout comes in seven modern finishes and conceals a snag-free pull-out spray nozzle. The tap’s enhanced filtration system instantly serves purified boiling, chilled or sparkling water, plus unfiltered hot and cold water for washing up. Create uninterrupted lines Modern interior design celebrates simple forms and clean lines. A clever way to…

Anyone who has watched the comedy series Seinfeld will know that one of George Costanza’s most reiterated delusions was that he had wanted to be an architect. This hapless persona inspired the irreverent name of architecture practice Architect George, but, unlike its namesake, the studio was anything but delusional in its vision for a Sydney terrace renovation. Bold, experimental and playful, House in Surry Hills is a small but punchy project that breaks away from the mould of monochrome and monotone Sydney residential design. From the front, the home appears like any other of the hundreds of terraces that march up and down the streets of the historic Sydney suburb. Beyond the threshold of the front door, however, lies a surprisingly colourful world of twenty-first-century living. I am immediately curious…

If your eyes glaze over at the first glimpse of another Insta-friendly, eggshell-on-beige-on-white house with nary a hint of a real human occupant, then the warm, textured and indelibly bespoke homes created by MRTN Architects are a wonderful antidote. “Our approach is not about creating immaculate trophy houses. For me, it’s about the process of bringing the home to life,” says director Antony Martin. “There’s something special in how houses change over time.” Originally from New Zealand, Antony honed his craft at Melbourne studios Denton Corker Marshall and Wood Marsh, followed by a nine-year stint in New York working with Davis Brody Bond and fellow Kiwi expat David Howell, before returning to Melbourne in 2009. With a growing family, Antony decided it was the right time to establish his own…

Cabins have long served as places of escape, offering respite from the chaos of urban life. This quality hinges as much on the design of the cabin as its idyllic and immersive natural setting. Yet Australia’s “wild” landscapes are often prone to imminent fire and flooding threats, demanding constant maintenance. In this context, Bittern Cabin establishes a fundamental sensibility of caretaking. Intended as a weekender for clients Anita and Paul, as well as their extended family and friends, the cabin facilitates ongoing land management while also championing self-care, ultimately strengthening the bond between the landscape and those who dwell in it. Nestled within coastal woodland, Bittern Cabin occupies a modest two-acre block in Bunurong country on the eastern side of the Mornington Peninsula. Architect Nic Morgante warmly describes this as…