Best Houses of 2017: Design Standouts Sweep Architecture Awards
This year's Houses Awards have honoured the most impressive architect-designed homes and additions across Australia
This year’s Houses Awards winners have met the challenge of designing homes for the modern Australian lifestyle with ingenuity and more than a little flair, and offer a revealing insight into the architecture of our times. With categories ranging from alterations and additions to residential apartments and sustainability, the winners impressed the judges, not just for their innovative solutions in response to client briefs, but for exceeding expectations on often limited budgets. Step inside the nine winning homes to learn about the thinking behind their designs, and why the judges picked them as standing head and shoulders above the rest.
Jury citation: “This project is distinguished by its deceptive simplicity. It is the result of the architecture practice’s sustained investigations into the Queensland vernacular, and the straightforward application and sensory qualities of utilitarian materials. Auchenflower House offers an inventive model for working with traditional housing on suburban blocks and provides an intelligent and poetic paradigm for current practice.”
This project was also joint winner of the House Alteration and Addition Under 200 Square Metres category.
New House Under 200 Square Metres
Project: Balnarring Retreat
Architect: Branch Studio Architects
Photos: Peter Clarke Photography
Project description: This project can switch between being a studio and a functioning private residence, all within the theme of ‘retreat’.
Project: Balnarring Retreat
Architect: Branch Studio Architects
Photos: Peter Clarke Photography
Project description: This project can switch between being a studio and a functioning private residence, all within the theme of ‘retreat’.
Jury citation: “Balnarring Retreat is a humble, hardworking dwelling that offers flexibility in use through cleverly crafted, simple, low-tech operable systems. Whether used as a studio or private residence, it is a place to slow down and retreat from the frantic pace of contemporary life. The honest materiality creates a simple palette, strengthening the dwelling’s connection with the surrounding native landscape. This little retreat reminds us that you don’t need much space or technology to enjoy the pleasures of life.”
New House Over 200 Square Metres
Project: Fish Creek House
Architect: Edition Office
Photos: Ben Hosking
Project description: Fish Creek House is contained within the singular gesture of a long, highly textured wall, which closely wraps three nested black timber pavilions.
Project: Fish Creek House
Architect: Edition Office
Photos: Ben Hosking
Project description: Fish Creek House is contained within the singular gesture of a long, highly textured wall, which closely wraps three nested black timber pavilions.
Jury citation: “An abstract object sits embedded in the landscape – a long, highly textured wall wrapping three black timber pavilions and enclosing five courtyards. The structures offer shelter from the at-times harsh climate, as well as views over the extraordinary landscape and coastline to the east.
“The planning of the house into three discrete pavilions separated by courtyards allows for the entry of northern light along its length, and for the incremental shutting down or opening up of the house to suit either its owners – an elderly couple – or larger family gatherings. Building a sizeable project with a high level of quality and detail on a relatively modest budget is a significant achievement in itself. This project goes much further – it offers an alternative model for ageing in place, with careful consideration of the single-level plan, the accessibility of bathrooms, access to outdoor spaces and an acute awareness of scale.”
“The planning of the house into three discrete pavilions separated by courtyards allows for the entry of northern light along its length, and for the incremental shutting down or opening up of the house to suit either its owners – an elderly couple – or larger family gatherings. Building a sizeable project with a high level of quality and detail on a relatively modest budget is a significant achievement in itself. This project goes much further – it offers an alternative model for ageing in place, with careful consideration of the single-level plan, the accessibility of bathrooms, access to outdoor spaces and an acute awareness of scale.”
This project was a joint winner in the Sustainability category.
House Alteration and Addition Over 200 Square Metres
Project: Burleigh Street House
Architect: ME
Photos: Christopher Frederick Jones
Project description: The existing bungalow is retained with two new pavilions added to the north and south. Detached from the existing structure, these pavilions mirror the gabled roof and create a series of gardens that moderate breezes, provide natural light, attenuate street noise and internalise the view, providing privacy and reinforcing the landscape.
Project: Burleigh Street House
Architect: ME
Photos: Christopher Frederick Jones
Project description: The existing bungalow is retained with two new pavilions added to the north and south. Detached from the existing structure, these pavilions mirror the gabled roof and create a series of gardens that moderate breezes, provide natural light, attenuate street noise and internalise the view, providing privacy and reinforcing the landscape.
Jury citation: “The addition of two new pavilions, one to the north and one to the south, has skilfully transformed an existing single-storey bungalow. The pavilions are slightly separated from the original to allow light and ventilation into the home, while enabling the introduction of gardens.
“The main living space links all three structures, forming significant outdoor rooms to both the north and south, with the transition from inside to outside barely perceptible. This ambiguity between interior and exterior spaces significantly contributes to the liveability of the house. The use of standard materials and domestic construction gives a subtle nod to the long-lost beach shacks of the Gold Coast.”
“The main living space links all three structures, forming significant outdoor rooms to both the north and south, with the transition from inside to outside barely perceptible. This ambiguity between interior and exterior spaces significantly contributes to the liveability of the house. The use of standard materials and domestic construction gives a subtle nod to the long-lost beach shacks of the Gold Coast.”
The architect of this project, ME, also won the award for Emerging Architecture Practice.
House Alteration and Addition Under 200 Square Metres (Joint Winner)
Project: A Pavilion Between Trees
Architect: Branch Studio Architects
Photos: Peter Clarke Photography
Project description: A master suite with a strong connection to the contextual garden surrounds. The pavilion achieves a meaningful connection with the landscape by giving way to, and interacting with, the existing trees. A slender form links the three distinct programs in a linear fashion, arranged with an overall modernist logic and aesthetic.
Project: A Pavilion Between Trees
Architect: Branch Studio Architects
Photos: Peter Clarke Photography
Project description: A master suite with a strong connection to the contextual garden surrounds. The pavilion achieves a meaningful connection with the landscape by giving way to, and interacting with, the existing trees. A slender form links the three distinct programs in a linear fashion, arranged with an overall modernist logic and aesthetic.
Jury citation: “This new pavilion structure provides a main bedroom suite to an existing dwelling, with an atmospheric palette of raw materials designed to reflect the mood of the functions of the space. The pavilion was designed with minimal artificial lighting to create a natural atmosphere in which to relax and unwind. This is a calm and intimate environment with varying layers of privacy and a careful connection to the landscape.
“The pavilion is exquisitely detailed and so is the transition between the existing house and the new structure. This is a precious gem of a building that has clearly been conceived with a passion for the manipulation of raw materials and their impact on the surrounding environment.”
“The pavilion is exquisitely detailed and so is the transition between the existing house and the new structure. This is a precious gem of a building that has clearly been conceived with a passion for the manipulation of raw materials and their impact on the surrounding environment.”
Apartment or Unit
Project: Bobhubski
Architect: March Studio
Photos: Peter Bennetts
Project description: Located in The Hub of Falls Creek, the client’s vision for the site was a minimalist space capsule for visitors. The name Bobhubski was derived from ‘Bobby’, the client, being located at ‘The Hub’ at Falls Creek, and the obvious aspect that its location was for skiing.
Project: Bobhubski
Architect: March Studio
Photos: Peter Bennetts
Project description: Located in The Hub of Falls Creek, the client’s vision for the site was a minimalist space capsule for visitors. The name Bobhubski was derived from ‘Bobby’, the client, being located at ‘The Hub’ at Falls Creek, and the obvious aspect that its location was for skiing.
Jury citation: “With a floor area of 27 square metres, this lean project is an acknowledgement of the creativity of the Japanese Metabolism movement. The jury lauds the design principles of the project, where ‘form is fit for purpose’. This work is manifestly founded on passion and intelligence in architecture.”
Heritage
Project: Jac
Architect: panovscott
Photos: Brett Boardman
Project description: This project transforms a home by inserting a new structure between two that already exist. The first is a Federation-era four-room cottage, while the second is an astoundingly sculptural jacaranda tree, which predates the cottage.
Project: Jac
Architect: panovscott
Photos: Brett Boardman
Project description: This project transforms a home by inserting a new structure between two that already exist. The first is a Federation-era four-room cottage, while the second is an astoundingly sculptural jacaranda tree, which predates the cottage.
Jury citation: “In this wonderful project, the key criterion of delivering an excellent design outcome within a heritage context is achieved many times over, from initial concept to completion. By adding a beautifully configured two-storey companion building to the rear of the existing four-room 1907 brick row house (one of seven), the architects have skilfully crafted architecture that is intimately integrated with the site, the heritage origins and the immediate landscape, enriched as it is by an impressive jacaranda tree. As a demonstration of focused, high-level design skills, this project is exemplary.”
Outdoor
Project: Waterloo House
Architect: Anthony Gill Architects with Budwise Garden Design
Photos: Peter Bennetts
Project description: Essential to the experience of this project is the series of courtyards and gardens layered through the site. Used to filter and protect, these gardens provide relief and a sense of privacy in a dense urban setting. The gardens are intended to grow up and over the house, absorbing it.
Project: Waterloo House
Architect: Anthony Gill Architects with Budwise Garden Design
Photos: Peter Bennetts
Project description: Essential to the experience of this project is the series of courtyards and gardens layered through the site. Used to filter and protect, these gardens provide relief and a sense of privacy in a dense urban setting. The gardens are intended to grow up and over the house, absorbing it.
Jury citation: “In this modest but ambitious project, the architect has used a light touch to maintain and enhance a house already well loved by its owners. A series of courtyard gardens is integral to and indivisible from the interior, with each room in the house opening to or overlooking a densely planted external space. The re-use of salvaged bricks from the demolition of the original rear wing, for both paving and new walls, provides a robust and maintenance-free structure intended to be completely absorbed by the lush and dense planting over time.
“This project demonstrates minimal intervention for maximum outcome. It is a delightful and sustainable outdoor space achieved with an economy of means, and it provides a perceived distancing from its neighbours that is rare in such a high-density inner-city location.”
“This project demonstrates minimal intervention for maximum outcome. It is a delightful and sustainable outdoor space achieved with an economy of means, and it provides a perceived distancing from its neighbours that is rare in such a high-density inner-city location.”
Sustainability
Project: Garden Pavilion
Architect: BLOXAS
Photos: Peter Bennetts
Project description: Garden Pavilion manifests from an attempt to resolve the conflicting attributes of a complex brief: a desire to entertain and a need to retreat, for openness and enclosure, light and dark.
Project: Garden Pavilion
Architect: BLOXAS
Photos: Peter Bennetts
Project description: Garden Pavilion manifests from an attempt to resolve the conflicting attributes of a complex brief: a desire to entertain and a need to retreat, for openness and enclosure, light and dark.
Jury citation: “The idea of ‘sustainability’ reaches beyond environmental responsiveness into the realm of social sustainability. This relates to a project‘s ability to acutely meet the needs of its clients, but also to the way that a design might provide the framework for new models of housing that could benefit a broader group of potential clients in similar circumstances.
“In the case of the Garden Pavilion by BLOXAS, an individual‘s sleep condition is addressed without compromising the client’s desire for a highly activated, social environment. Collaborating closely with the client and other consultants, BLOXAS has initiated extensive research and investigation to understand how the design of a home might improve quality of life for someone who suffers chronically. Requirements regarding acoustics, isolation and other specific needs are catered for within a delightful garden pavilion that belies its complexity.”
“In the case of the Garden Pavilion by BLOXAS, an individual‘s sleep condition is addressed without compromising the client’s desire for a highly activated, social environment. Collaborating closely with the client and other consultants, BLOXAS has initiated extensive research and investigation to understand how the design of a home might improve quality of life for someone who suffers chronically. Requirements regarding acoustics, isolation and other specific needs are catered for within a delightful garden pavilion that belies its complexity.”
To see more photos of the winning and commended designs, visit Houses Awards.
Your say
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2017 Australian Interior Design Awards Shortlist
Your say
Which house would you love to call home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More
2017 Australian Interior Design Awards Shortlist
Project: Auchenflower House
Architect: Vokes and Peters
Photos: Christopher Frederick Jones
Project description: A modest timber cottage has been carefully modified and extended to accommodate a young family and to orientate the building’s occupants towards the garden.