Inside a Garden House That Makes You Feel Like You’re Living in a Jungle (House Tour)

Looking inside a garden house that embraces the subtropical environment of Brisbane, Gibbon Street Residence offers a balance of interior and natural spaces. Designed by Cavill Architects, the renovated home harmonises with the natural landscape while adding to the neighbourhood greenery.

Inside a garden house located in the inner-city suburb of New Farm, the existing built surrounds are reflected. “The strong history of Italian family settlement in the area was something that we really wanted to celebrate in this project,” says Sandy Cavill, director at Cavill Architects. “We looked at the charming way in which those houses have been renovated and built – the materiality, their language – and it was that history and culture that really led to the conception of the ideas behind this project.” Emerging from an existing workers’ cottage, the house includes a modern extension that fits in the context of local design. Layers of off-form concrete and wet dash render echo the foundations of neighbouring builds; used throughout the project, the wet dash render also merges interior and garden spaces.

“When we first visited this site, one of its key attributes was really a legacy of landscape,” says Cavill. “The rear of houses on this street, collectively they contribute quite a large green space.” Cavill Architects takes care to maximise floor space inside a garden house without disturbing nature. Greenery is set on top of the rear extension and the resculpted site features a dry creek bed, continuing the work of the natural watercourse. The levels of the house are then conceived as a series of platforms relating to the surrounds. “There's a bridge-like structure, a sitting room, which hovers over the undulating landscape, and then the main living space sits at the bottom of the dry creek bed,” says Cavill. “So really, the gardens have been threaded throughout the ground floor of the building and the living spaces always look to sit alongside gardens and courtyards.”

As other homes sit close to the sides of Gibbon Street Residence, Cavill Architects uses the top and bottom of the house to illuminate inside a garden house. “We've got a number of skylights and a void to the courtyard, which bring light deep into the plan, and also windows at the floor, which focus on the garden without compromising the privacy of the interior,” says Cavill. The relationship between the home and the neighbourhood is developed and managed through the rooftop garden. A variety of plant species are positioned close to the edge of the roof so that, spilling over the side, they not only protect the interior below from outside view but also provide a pleasant green visual for neighbours to enjoy.

From inside a garden house to its rooftop, Gibbon Street Residence testifies to the considered approach of Cavill Architects. “A key ambition of our office in all of its projects, whether they be large and public or small and private, is to consider a certain civic mindedness,” says Cavill. “That was really at the core of the focus of this project and we're so pleased that the community enjoys it from within its context.”

00:00 - Introduction to the Garden House
01:03 - The Original Workers Cottage
01:34 - The Landscape and Garden Design
02:06 - The Material Palette
02:52 - The Layout of the Home
04:20 - The Rooftop Garden
04:47 - Key Ambitions of the Architects

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Photography by David Chatfield and Christopher Frederick Jones
Architecture by Cavill Architects.
Landscape design by Dan Young Landscape Architect.
Structural engineering by Westera Partners.
Filmed and edited by Dan Preston.
Production by The Local Production.

Location: New Farm, Queensland, Australia

The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners 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.

#GardenHouse #Living #TheLocalProject

[ovejanegra]

The best compliment that I can give to this project is - unlike others that look great but feel like showrooms - this one feels like actual people live there, and it's beautiful and cozy at the same time. Good job!

[Tottelbe]

It's been a while since I saw this much beauty in a single home. What a breath-taking design...

[karinamaissin]

one of the most beautiful homes I've ever seen. Couldnt fault anything about this home. The garden & plants are incredible

[janelte]

The use of skylights and low windows is really effective and the interior feels soft and inviting despite all the hard materials - well done.

[sarahhudson]

This has been in my Pinterest favourites for a very long time. I can only dream about living somewhere like this. It’s everything I love and I congratulate you on creating a home which is beautiful, well crafted and sympathetic to its environment. Just divine!

[J.e.f.f.r.e.y]

I like the consideration of the neighbours. Generally a new build is big and affects the community negatively and there is always a loss for the neighbours. This project offers the neighbours something special with the addition of green space and also screening for everyone’s privacy.

[kodo]

I really hope this kind of biophilic architectural design becomes more widespread. It's a beautiful home.

[trisnaekowiyatnikawaii]

It's the first time a modern minimalist house doesn't look sterile and uninhabitable. I love the way they've laid out the kitchen, which shows that it's being used while remaining tidy.

[architecturaldream]

It’s giving Donovan Hill. Responds so well to our sub-tropical environment. Love the integration of the creek bed.

[mrvk]

I love the idea of a house that is a pleasure to live in AND a beauty to look at for its neighbors. I would LOVE to have this house next to mine. It's not this concrete, grey bunker that a lot of modern architecture is reduced to, but almost a living thing, with colorful plants growing out of it and on top of it. Neighbors must love it! And, I am not too familiar with Brisbane's climate besides knowing its very hot, but if you can actually open all those sliding doors and enjoy it for most of the year, it's just perfect. The only thing I didn't like is that raw concrete ceiling - nothing Italian about that (unless you talk about the Pantheon or something). It doesn't have an Italian influence to me, and I've been to all of Italy besides Sardinia.

[by.pritchard]

This is the type of home I would like to be designing at my workplace. I always look forward to these videos. It's become a great way to learn how designers are creating around the globe. So valuable. Thank you for sharing, and regularly bringing this content.

[yolandalechugabaranda]

Love it! The use of the natural light is just beautiful!

[pixelpalette]

It's beautifully designed yet cozy, striking a perfect balance between style and comfort. Fantastic work!

[tiffanycurtis]

This is beautiful. This channel was so calming. I love watching it with a nice cup of tea.😄

[Throneproperty_th]

The interior decor is sophisticated yet cozy, the perfect combination!

[enuclear]

Once I had translated the archispeak into plain English, I quite liked the building. So thank you for the opportunity to conceptualise the form and set its handling of a more delicate sensibility into context.

[iftekharmian]

such a gorgeous home! lot of detailed sophisticated takes!

[ForestCreatures]

Thank you for the wider angle shots - much appreciated! :)

[friedrichhieronymus]

Like most of the comment here, this is something I'd like to see more featured in this channel. More and more of the houses featured seems unattainable, large mansion, concrete bunker-ish type of look that (maybe there's an audience to that)

This house is something I personally can relate and connect with, beautiful home, bravo and congrats for the owner!

[wildlifegardenssydney]

I really love this. So sensitive and focusing on drinking in the green garden on all levels and between levels without destroying the land below❤. I like the top lit and bottom lit approach and thoughtfulness re neighbours. I grew up in a federation house with that same beautiful thrown render. Congratulations on your home.