This Home’s Design Will Change How You Think About Architecture (House Tour)

This home’s design facilitates a rare co-habitation with the forested landscape and represents a balance of modern architecture and the purity of nature. From a distance, Edition Office’s Federal House appears like a shadow nestled into the folding hills of the hinterland, a sharp contrast to the vibrant surrounds.

Upon approach, the textures of the exterior convey a distinct dialogue with nature. This home’s design acts to deepen relationships between people and the natural setting and intimately shows the inner machinations of the environment.

The brief outlined a home that would act as a sanctuary and elemental respite from the clients’ high-pressure careers. The occupants of Federal House enjoy a relationship with the hillside, forest and grassland at the site’s rear as well as panoramic views over the forested horizon from the heavily inset living-zoned platform and sheltered pool. A reverberation of settler colonial homesteads of the past, this home’s design inverts the front verandah typology, looking inward to orbit an internal courtyard and present a tightly controlled outer envelope.

Federal House’s interior spaces act as an elevated stage, a refuge from which to observe the passing of time through the shifting weather and seasons of the Northern Rivers hinterland. The covered outdoor spaces welcome in the landscape, where modestly scaled living spaces and bedrooms lie. A large inner void draws the sky into the depths of the structure, and the pool reflects the solar and lunar cycles across its surface.

This home’s design is clearly delineated, with the living spaces placed to the north and south sides of the central garden to allow for social interactions, and the sleeping and bathing spaces situated within the eastern wing provide a series of modest enclaves for rest and solitude. The subterranean pool grounds the project and links to the planted void at the centre of the structure. Here, the water takes on profound meaning, connecting users directly to the natural elements.

Materials used amplify the experiential qualities of Federal House. Aaron Roberts, director at Edition Office, recalls visiting the site early in the design process, recounting, “we found ourselves drawn to the tree line, to the shadows cast and observed the horizon from a point sheltered from the direct sun.” This notion of observing nature in shadow inspired this home’s design, its darkened appearance, the gradient timber tones used to define functionality and gives insight into the studio’s mindful approach.

Federal House is a testament to the design prowess of Edition Office and its understanding of the nuances of environmental connections. “Watching the sun slowly rise, shift in its great arc across the sky and then sink back down behind the tree line is endlessly captivating from the home,” says Kim Bridgland, director at Edition Office. The courage to experiment has resulted in this home’s design – a unique residence in tune with its surroundings, with the harmonious merging of modern architecture with the purity of the location.

00:00 - Introduction to the Home
00:58 - The Initial Brief
02:11 - A Walkthrough of the Home
03:07 - Shaping Light Through Design
03:30 - The Warm Material Palette
04:01 - A Holistic Experience
04:57 - Thankful Moments

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Photography by Tom Ross.
Architecture, interior design and styling by Edition Office.
Build by SJ Reynolds Constructions.
Landscape design by Florian Wild.
Structural engineering by Westera Partners.
Filmed and edited by Dan Preston.
Production by The Local Production.

Location: Federal, New South Wales, Australia

The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.

#Home #Design #Architecture

[eldadesign]

Very alienated structure in the middle of nature..

[JBOsurf]

This building is an archetype for a transcendental journey through the fabric of space-time. When entering the house you are immediately transported through an interstellar wormhole back in time to the prehistoric era where dinosaurs roamed the earth. By stroking the beard of the architect you immediately sense the contributions of Australia's traditional owners, who own the land upon which this $4 million house is built.

[anthonyrigg]

Edition Office is one of the best architectural firms in the country at the moment. Their sensitivity to end-user experience through emotive design is simply astonishing! One to watch!!

[CourtneyBishopPOA]

I love the contrast of the greenery of the plants with the black walls. Gives this place life and a feeling of being in your own little, remote jungle. I also loveee the pool. The way the breeze blows on it and gives that effect you see overlooking a lake. Plus the feeling of walking down into this secluded "cave" and being able to quietly immerse in your own experience as you swim and overlook the views. The whole house almost feels like a cacoon due to the darkness, and I personally love the protective, peaceful vibe. Very cool, atmospheric project and journey.

[Q-bal]

Beautiful house, beautiful cinematography. But unfortunately another victim of the Local Project Effect, whereby a thousand artsy shots combined still don't give an appropriate sense of the layout of the house or how any of the rooms connect to each other.

[art.coleelvis]

I absolutely love the garden. So surreal.

[michaelnicola]

I'm very emotional right now, forgive me but there are tears of joy and a sense of peace, a rare thing in a cluttered world. I was moved by a house. That alone is more than enough to ask of architecture. It is the place for a certain maturity of soul, like an expansive mind that has journeyed through a complicated life and now embraces serenity and reflection. There is great life here as well as great calm. This is the expression of life not wasted on always looking back, a true breath of air, of the breeziness of clarity. No clutter yet deeply cozy. No wasted referential gestures. I'm deeply moved and grateful to have even seen this. Thank You to all concerned.

[Louise-ryt]

Light and shade are very effectively demonstrated. Thank you.

[Ren-]

Not bad. The swimming pool reminds me of Zumthor's thermal baths in Vals.

[akirahojo]

The walk down to the house and the light-shadow play is soothing, they have adapted Komorebi concept really well. The swimming pool is a bit scary though, dark and cold.

[by.pritchard]

Beautiful artistry, and craftsmanship.

[고래밥-no]

먼가 공포영화에 나올거 같은 느낌이네요 검정색집이라... 집 외부보다 내부가 감옥같기도 한게 특이하네요

[davidramontsi]

This is the house I have been looking for.

[QuangBĐSNhaTrang]

Nice. I really love this design. Thanks ❤😊

[VictorP-ee]

Beautifully designed!
Full of different experiential effects afforded by all the elements & conditions of the site. ❤🎉

[sutats]

It's definitely a Sith's outpost.

[LeMeene]

I think never has architecture spoken to me like that before. This building is just perfect!

[beategeibel]

Beautiful, mystic, sensual and high quality. 👏🏻

[byunjoe]

I remember seeing this project on Archdaily! Love to see it in video format now

[ClaudioToffanin-qo]

Modernità linee perfette armonia di colore e finitura. Splendida 👏