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Building Components
Best of the Week: 30 Light-Bringing Voids and Atriums
Voids and atriums come in many forms in a home, but they all achieve the same things – lashings of light and space
Unfilled space within a home may feel like a luxury, but as these homes reveal, voids can be valuable conduits of natural light. Atriums are just as appealing – especially in cooler climates – inviting the sunshine in and enhancing the sense of space in a house no end. These ideas will inspire you to incorporate a void or atrium – or both – into your next renovation. And if you’re building a new home? It’s a no brainer.
A fireman’s pole makes for speedy access from the bedroom to the living/dining/kitchen area below. Jealous?
2. Location: Miami, USA
Why we love it: A void doesn’t have to be all glass to have an impact – keeping out the heat can be more important than flooding a space with light.
Why we love it: A void doesn’t have to be all glass to have an impact – keeping out the heat can be more important than flooding a space with light.
3. Location: Potts Point, NSW
Why we love it: This void is a sleek and sculptural addition to the kitchen/dining area, in line with the incredible renovation as a whole.
Why we love it: This void is a sleek and sculptural addition to the kitchen/dining area, in line with the incredible renovation as a whole.
4. Location: Fitzroy, Victoria
Why we love it: This converted warehouse in an old industrial area welcomes the sunshine in with two full-height voids. The voids also open the home to sky views, almost as if you were in a backyard.
Why we love it: This converted warehouse in an old industrial area welcomes the sunshine in with two full-height voids. The voids also open the home to sky views, almost as if you were in a backyard.
5. Location: North Epping, NSW
Why we love it: A double-height void and large aluminium windows create a sense of space and light in this new extension. Architect Danny Broe says the contrast of the low spaces against the open areas creates both intimacy and drama.
Why we love it: A double-height void and large aluminium windows create a sense of space and light in this new extension. Architect Danny Broe says the contrast of the low spaces against the open areas creates both intimacy and drama.
6. Location: Marrickville, NSW
Why we love it: A void can do double duty. In this case, it brings light and space into not just the kitchen/dining area…
Why we love it: A void can do double duty. In this case, it brings light and space into not just the kitchen/dining area…
… but also the upstairs living area, which is flooded with light from both sides.
7. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: A void that serves as a bike storage spot – nice.
Why we love it: A void that serves as a bike storage spot – nice.
8. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: Circles make a refreshing change from hard lines and angles – what an impact the cylindrical void makes in this home.
Why we love it: Circles make a refreshing change from hard lines and angles – what an impact the cylindrical void makes in this home.
9. Location: Glasshouse Mountains, Queensland
Why we love it: This design makes the most of the leafy views, while louvred windows upstairs allow the rising hot air to escape.
Why we love it: This design makes the most of the leafy views, while louvred windows upstairs allow the rising hot air to escape.
10. Location: Bondi, NSW
Why we love it: The void transforms this Victorian terrace house extension, along with several skylights.
Why we love it: The void transforms this Victorian terrace house extension, along with several skylights.
11. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Why we love it: With an outlook this gorgeous, why wouldn’t you make the most of it with double-height glass.
Why we love it: With an outlook this gorgeous, why wouldn’t you make the most of it with double-height glass.
12. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: This void makes the interior a light-filled haven, and the house glows from the inside out when the sun goes down.
Why we love it: This void makes the interior a light-filled haven, and the house glows from the inside out when the sun goes down.
13. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: One of the great things about voids is the bold lighting choices you can make to go with them.
Why we love it: One of the great things about voids is the bold lighting choices you can make to go with them.
14. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Light and space delivered upstairs and down. Mission accomplished.
Why we love it: Light and space delivered upstairs and down. Mission accomplished.
15. Location: Mindarie, WA
Why we love it: Beachy Hamptons style needs plenty of natural light to really work. A soaring ceiling and plantation shutters galore bring both an abundance of light and a chic coastal vibe.
Why we love it: Beachy Hamptons style needs plenty of natural light to really work. A soaring ceiling and plantation shutters galore bring both an abundance of light and a chic coastal vibe.
16. Location: Mosman, NSW
Why we love it: This sophisticated home makes use of the grand space created by the void with a statement pendant.
Why we love it: This sophisticated home makes use of the grand space created by the void with a statement pendant.
Upstairs, the void serves to open the home to those incredible harbour views.
17. Location: Alexandria, NSW
Why we love it: Squeezing in a house on a narrow block can make bringing in natural light a challenge. Not so with this design.
Why we love it: Squeezing in a house on a narrow block can make bringing in natural light a challenge. Not so with this design.
18. Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Why we love it: A void over the stairwell provides a view out into the garden every time you walk downstairs – far more interesting than a blank wall.
Why we love it: A void over the stairwell provides a view out into the garden every time you walk downstairs – far more interesting than a blank wall.
19. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: The morning sun streaming in can get any day off to a fine start. This glass extension adjoins a historical cottage.
Why we love it: The morning sun streaming in can get any day off to a fine start. This glass extension adjoins a historical cottage.
20. Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Why we love it: This stairway void makes way for skylights that filter light down to the lower level.
Why we love it: This stairway void makes way for skylights that filter light down to the lower level.
21. Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Why we love it: The goal with the atrium in this home was to welcome in the natural surrounds.
Why we love it: The goal with the atrium in this home was to welcome in the natural surrounds.
22. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Texture brings a three-dimensional edge to this contemporary extension.
Why we love it: Texture brings a three-dimensional edge to this contemporary extension.
23. Location: New York City, USA
Why we love it: We can’t think of a better way to make full use of a void.
Why we love it: We can’t think of a better way to make full use of a void.
24. Location: West Virginia, USA
Why we love it: Why chop down a tree if you don’t need to? This design really does bring the outside in.
Why we love it: Why chop down a tree if you don’t need to? This design really does bring the outside in.
25. Location: Nantes, France
Why we love it: This home has the best of both worlds: a cosy living area and a kitchen that’s light and bright.
Why we love it: This home has the best of both worlds: a cosy living area and a kitchen that’s light and bright.
26. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: If this kitchen doesn’t entice you to cook, nothing will. Light acts like a magnet in the home – everyone tends to want to bask in it.
Why we love it: If this kitchen doesn’t entice you to cook, nothing will. Light acts like a magnet in the home – everyone tends to want to bask in it.
27. Location: West Hollywood, USA
Why we love it: This atrium, between the home’s stairwell and master suite, turns taking a shower into an experience.
Why we love it: This atrium, between the home’s stairwell and master suite, turns taking a shower into an experience.
28. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Where better to put an atrium than over the shower? This bathroom was created out of a disused concrete water tank!
Why we love it: Where better to put an atrium than over the shower? This bathroom was created out of a disused concrete water tank!
29. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: A void in the bathroom is unexpected but brilliant.
Why we love it: A void in the bathroom is unexpected but brilliant.
30. Location: Seville, Spain
Why we love it: Three rooms benefit from one light-filled atrium in this Spanish home.
Tell us
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More
Take a look at last week’s Best of the Week: 30 Lovely Living Rooms
Why we love it: Three rooms benefit from one light-filled atrium in this Spanish home.
Tell us
If you enjoyed this story, like it, save it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Take a look at last week’s Best of the Week: 30 Lovely Living Rooms
Why we love it: This is some bachelor pad. A home doesn’t need to be big to be beautiful, but it helps if there’s a sense of space and plenty of natural light – both things enhanced via a void.