A Japanese-Inspired Home That Experiments with Interior Design, Space and Usability (House Tour)

Nestled in the northern suburb of Coburg, Harry House by Archier is a Japanese-inspired home that radiates familiarity and comfort.

As per the clients’ brief, Harry House is a Japanese-inspired home, with Archier incorporating Japanese design into many aspects of the architecture. Originally, the site was a double-fronted pre-war weatherboard cottage; the clients wanted to retain the entry’s warmth but reorientate the living space to frame the green foliage. This allowed the space to be maximised, combining the old and new aspects of the building.

Named after the family dog ‘Harry’, Harry House experiments with interior design, space and usability. The materials were chosen with care, making sure that each element ages well and is robust for family life. The textures celebrate honest carpentry, with materials that are unpolished yet full of life, adding to the atmosphere of the home.

Harry House is centred around family, with bespoke living areas that connect multiple aspects of the home. This includes the soft netted areas located in the voids, allowing the residents to occupy spaces without needing furniture.

Archier’s extension adds new elements of play, specifically in its design references to a childhood treehouse. The client’s Japanese heritage inspired the house, including how the space interplays with natural light and connection to the lush gardens. Located 10 minutes from the Archier Studio, the house has access to the Merri Creek, as well as restaurants on Lygon Street and Sydney Road.

As a Japanese-inspired home, the layout of the bathrooms was important for functionality and design. With separate spaces for the toilet, basin and bathing, it is easy to see how the architecture was influenced by the client’s heritage, honouring the traditional ways Japanese bathrooms are configured.

Having exceeded the clients’ expectations, and taking design inspiration from the client’s Japanese heritage, Harry House by Archier is a sustainable home, ready to raise a young family.

Architecture and Interior Design by Archier.
Filmed and Edited by Dan Preston.
Production by The Local Project.

#JapaneseInspiredHome #Archier #HarryHouse

[lagritsalammas]

This might be my favourite house I’ve seen on all of youtube. It’s so beautifully made, love the garden wrapping around the building, the light, the colour scheme, the step-down kitchen, the respect for the historic structure, the Japanese-inspired detailing, it’s all very, very beautiful!

[karli]

I bet that house hits different when it rains 😌🌧✨

[bgnin]

That contrast between contemporary architecture and traditional furniture that shows its robust age is so beautiful.

[alohawaiist]

“Honest” living is so refreshing - well used furniture, honest carpentry. “design for the family to live in, not for filming (ironically)” - so true.

[nadiailmb]

I love the house is named after their dog Harry.

[lisasu]

One thing I love so much about most of these projects you're showcasing is how almost all of these architects and clients are so passionate about incorporating nature. It's so beautiful. I live in LA and a whole lot of the houses here are just these blocks of concrete that take up nearly all of the space the ground they're built on allows, and there's no regard for an actual garden. I wish people all around the world would realize how important and beautiful it is to have nature around you, for the environment and yourself. Thank you so much for sharing these videos with us!

[CLBOO]

I can only imagine watching a rainy day from inside the house. Heaven.

[ThisIsMyFullName]

Imagine being a kid growing up in this open green house, and then one day having to move out into a small bedroom apartment. It must feel like a prison lol

[halmedrano]

I watch these kinds of videos all the time and hardly ever comment on them, but this house is astonishingly beautiful. I particularly love the natural materials, with all their textures and quirks. The netted floors are brilliant. Truly, this is a project that blows me away. Congratulations to the designers and may Tania and her family live long and happily in this space.

[dcmc]

As someone who is currently designing her forever/retirement home, I never thought to add steps into my space due to the issues older people have with slips, trips, falls. I want my home to be carer-friendly and easy-to-navigate. However the step- down kitchen is absolutely brilliant in how it seamlessly pulls kitchen and living spaces together. I am currently looking to incorporate something similar but with graded/ramped floor alongside either side of the island instead of an actual step. It will still be usable for many of my family who have vision challenges and even for wheelchair access if needed. It won't be hard-to-navigate when I'm really old and still stubbornly refusing to leave my home. Haha.

[jacksonhides]

Wow, what a stunning home! I love the reverse engineering to design a house that complements the existing garden. It would've been such a shame to have disregarded that and built over it. Beautifully captured.

[ravent]

Quite perfect - I love that garden being the focus. And that skinny tile in the bath is fabulous.

[theaveragemegaguy]

I feel like next time you should zoom out a bit on a lot of the scenes. I felt like I didn’t really see the house at all since everything was so close up. What I did see was great though 👍

[ruthp]

I just can't get enough of your video production skills, guys! The way you tell the house architecture in a visceral fashion is well-executed, it is like being transported there with you.

[sniperdnc]

The front cottage was kept humble. The whole house was hugged by lush landscape. It’s scenic. All the little details and choice of materials brought this house “textureful”. Love it!!!

[harperwelch]

I really like this house. It sits well in the neighborhood, nice street presentation, wonderfully overgrown landscaping, dark building color (which always looks good behind bright greenery), terrific little garden niches that cut into the volume, handsome grey vertical panels with wood strips give the walls a Japanese screen quality, so many successful decisions here. A very good and modest home.

[bethperry]

"A home for living", and it is. The view from the front door took my breath.

[ElleAshterra]

I too grew up surrounded by acres of Aussie bushland aplenty to build treehouses with my older brothers. As a consequence, I’ve found no matter where I live there must be plenty of nature to see and interact with 🤩💚
This home, garden, and it’s occupiers are all synergistically aligned. Such a pleasure to watch.

[Baaiim]

This is probably the best house I've seen ever

[Air]

This is the tree house I never knew I wanted. Such a calm, relaxing place to live. 😍