In a digital age of image saturation, where more and more frequently the common design feature is homogeneity, it’s refreshing to look to those doing things differently. The architects whose work is featured in this issue of Houses push back against expectations of how a home “should” look or function, and demonstrate how good design encourages us to slow down, look up and change daily life for the better.
On this issue’s cover is A Courtyard House by Office Mi–Ji. This design interrogates how a house can support varied occupation, and much of the work is done with unconventional moves in plan and section. Instead of the hip-and-gable roofs of its neighbours, this residence features varied roof planes that give each room a distinct mood. Above the living room, a rhythmic sawtooth roof feels more industrial than residential, yet its striking form serves the home beautifully by capturing morning light.
Convention is also upended in OK House by Stephen Collier Architect. Instead of seeking out ocean views, this new dwelling on the New South Wales south coast turns inwards to a sheltered courtyard at its centre, around which daily life unfolds. This reorientation achieves a home that feels larger and more intimate all at once, as the courtyard becomes an extension of the house: a place for morning coffee, dinner with friends or a bath under the stars.
These are just two of the homes in this issue that rethink the rules. I hope you enjoy the read.
Alexa Kempton, editor
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