When architect Kyra Thomas (Kyra Thomas Architects) and her partner Julian Reznik were searching for their new home, they were looking for a challenge; something they could transform into a spacious family home, but that was a little different to the usual inner-city Sydney property.
They found exactly that in an old self-storage warehouse, which they’ve masterfully renovated into an elegant family home that seamlessly connects exterior courtyard spaces with an open-plan, light-filled interior.
The beauty of the creative fields is the myriad ways its skills and problem-solving are integral to non-creative work. Take Micah Scott, for example. The founding CEO of Australia’s first LGBTQIA+ youth organisation, Minus18 Foundation arrived at his career in the not-for-profit sector via training in design. What’s a key way to ensure your community engagement messaging is clear, effective and reaching the right audience ? Design!
In this instalment of our Words from The Wise series in partnership with Monash Art, Architecture + Design, recent graduate Kieran Medici talks to Micah about how training in design honed his communication skills, and how this led to a career at one of the country’s leading youth organisations.
Plus, get a squizz inside the brand new Victorian Pride Centre on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda – Melbourne’s hub for queer organisations and LGBTQIA+led events such as Joy Radio, Melbourne Queer Film Festival and, of course, Minus18. It’s amazing!
The owners of this Jan Jac house came to Not All Architecture with a simple brief; create a small, low impact home that tested the opportunities for living well within a 100sqm footprint.
But how do you take a modest beach house, designed to be inhabited for short periods of time, and design it as a permanent residence – without significantly increasing its footprint?
For architect Phoebe Clarke the answer lay in placing the verandah, not around, but directly through the middle of the house – to facilitate year-round outdoor living, optimise thermal performance, and to split the sleeping and living wings for visual and acoustic privacy. Genius!
If interior designerSarah Conly and engineer Hugh O’Brien hadn’t bought this mid-century house, it’s likely the Ivanhoe East property wouldn’t exist today.
Not only did the couple save the home from potential demolition, they’ve spent the last two years enhancing its 1960s bones with sympathetic restorations that masterfully blend old and new.
It’s been A LOT of work, but the result is one very special home!
Perhaps the most striking element of this 600sqm home, is how it expands after you’ve entered through the front door. Its design is deceptive, as from the street, the structure’s breath-taking size and connection to the garden is totally hidden.
This was, of course, the aim of architect Micheal Ong from MODO, who designed the house as a progression of spaces and moments to ensure it never presented as overwhelmingly large.
Smith Architects approached this alterations and additions project with a primary objective: to better connect the humble Queenslander to its landscape and climate.
Working carefully to preserve the existing rooms, the practice added an elegant extension, focusing on quality over quantity. New spaces indoors and out are playful yet functional, balancing privacy and connections to community.
Craft and design are integral in influencing how materials are selected, used, and repurposed in modern society.
This notion forms the basis of Alternative Provisions – Craft Victoria’s latest exhibition featuring the work of six artists, makers and designers repurposing organic matter and discarded waste into beautiful and productive items.
From table lamps made from recycled waste glass, to fishing nets manipulated with masterful weaving and sewing techniques, discover the potential of conscious alternatives in this exciting exhibition.
Emmy Webbers is a Gurnai/Kurnai woman who lives with her partner Brendan and children Tyreese (6), Arwen (3) and Atlas (1), in the Dandenong Ranges on Wurundjeri Country.
Emmy is the founder of Wurruck Yambo – an Aboriginal education business that focusses on bringing Indigenous culture and knowledge into classrooms, through workshops and creative resources. We talked to her about starting this inspiring family business, maintaining connection to culture, and how her young family have navigated lockdowns and remote learning over the past two years.
It was a big decision for Sam Gordon to leave the family business he grew up in, after many years working alongside his three siblings at Robert Gordon – the renowned pottery business his father started more than 40 years ago. But the hardest choices often turn out to be the most formative.
Harnessing the knowledge and experience accumulated over years spent in the family biz, Sam has recently started his own small scale ceramics practice, from a studio on his Gembrook property. Here, Sam has forged ahead, honing his own style of hand-thrown functional ceramics, created in small batches. Back to basics!
The home of Liam Gough, drummer of The Teskey Brothers, and Olivia Cummings, designer and founder of jewellery label Cleopatra’s Bling, is a classic mudbrick home, typical of Melbourne’s north-east.
The couple purchased the 1977 owner-built home in North Warrandyte last year, and have since undertaken only minor updates that celebrate the original design.
Over the past twelve months, this has been the perfect work-from-home and living haven for Liam & Olivia, surrounded by towering trees and native wildlife!
/media/k2/items/cache/e9c724eeb5636d1c1c1a2c2e85d40377_L.jpgSeaside Inspiration for the HomeTrips to the beach are popular getaways - but if you can\'t get to the beach, you can bring it to your home.F
/media/k2/items/cache/2a14beb1aee2d71c6fecb12f25c690f7_L.jpgKid-Friendly Projects Fuel Winter Family FunColder temperatures mean more indoor time, making it a challenge to find activities that will ke
/media/k2/items/cache/398a8bc2e3f7f879ff0986359513be80_L.jpgTo Dye For EggsDon\'t hide your eggs, display them! Use this guide for the Pantone® colors of the season as well as dazzling design technique