Hallways & Entries

Top Ideabooks

Appears in

More Rooms

Top Ideabooks

See also

Laundries Hallways & Entries Bedrooms Wardrobes Kids Rooms Nurseries Living Rooms Dining Rooms Home Offices Attics Garages Granny Flats & Studios

Crossing the Threshold: 7 Surprising and Stunning Home Entries

These ingenius doorways and entrances make the perfect transition from the public face to the private sanctuary of the home

Briony Darcy 20 October 2014

Houzz Australia Contributor. Principal of DE atelier Architects. I live and breathe architecture with my lovely husband and fellow architect, Leon Eyck. We travelled the world together seeking gastronomic delights and beautiful architecture. Homeward bound, we set up our practice and started our little family. My passion is family and the unique architecture that makes a home and soul for a family.

Houzz Australia Contributor. Principal of DE atelier Architects. I live and breathe... More

Comment2

Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog.

Metaphorically speaking, crossing the threshold can represent a beginning or a new chapter in someone’s life. The image that springs to mind is the dashing groom effortlessly carrying his new bride into their marital abode, as portrayed in a Hollywood chick flick. And now, imagine handsome newlywed George Clooney crossing the threshold with his stunning human rights lawyer bride Amal. Ok, I digress! Either way, whether it be a new life or simply entering your home, transitioning from the public entrance to the inner sanctum of a home is a significant rite of passage. Here are just some ways homes have interpreted this beautiful journey.

Jolson

1. Urban edge entry
Wandering around the urban streets of Prahran, Victoria, you may be fortunate enough to stumble across this inspired warehouse designed by the architects at Jolson. Built on the hard edge of the street, the entry is akin to the TARDIS from the British pop culture television series Doctor Who. Like the TARDIS the entry blends with its surroundings and is almost hidden at street level with the door firmly shut. The interior is a delightful surprise, appearing more spacious than you are led to believe at the street face.

Matt Gibson Architecture + Design

2. Warming hearth entry
Hidden in the leafy suburb of Armadale, Victoria, is a warming entry you want to find. Poised at the juxtaposition of the original dwelling and contemporary extension is this transparent doorway. The full-height glazed door welcomes you to the inner sanctum of the semi-private courtyard. Even a threshold-warming fire can be lit in the open fireplace, creating a delightful ambiance in the courtyard. It is an alluring setting; an entry that I would love to be welcomed into.

Centrum Architects

3. Down by the boardwalk
Peering down this boardwalk, you can almost see the ocean at the other end. This entry to this dwelling in Maslin Beach, South Australia, is a celebration of the informal. There is no foyer – the boardwalk leads you directly into the heart of the home and beyond to encompass the sea view. In this instance it is the use of the floor materials that defines the entry and zones the living and kitchen space at either side of the boardwalk.

Dale Jones-Evans Pty Ltd Architecture

4. A touch of brutalism
Venturing across to the west coast, to glorious Margaret River in Western Australia, we discover this austere facade. Oversized concrete slabs move with the slope of the site and lead you on the journey to the front door. The brutalist expression of architecture is evident in the strong horizontal lines and bold expression of concrete materiality. The minimalist detail is reinforced upon entry to the dwelling, with a tiny ribbon window providing a hint at eye level the vista beyond: the Indian Ocean. In this instance, the architectural design has been used to frame the entry and set the scene, which is a celebration of the interaction of the building and landscape, as opposed to expansive views.

Sandberg Schoffel Architects

5. Gothic entry
Perched on a hill, we uncover this converted church in Laggan in the NSW Southern Tablelands. Built in 1876 the church was reinvented numerous times. Upon deconsecration, it also served as a shearing shed for five decades. Today it has been lovingly restored for highland holiday getaways. The original Gothic style timber doors have been retained, marking the entry.

Take a tour of this home

Sandberg Schoffel Architects

And on the inside…
Across the threshold you enter into a simple living room and open-plan kitchen.

DE atelier Architects

6. Soaring spine entry
On the Great Ocean Road, in the coastal town of Lorne, Victoria, we discover this soaring, double-volume, spine entry. It is the sheer height together with the elegant, single-drop pendant that defines this entry. The oversized glass-panel door opens the full width to the uncluttered view of the ascending, solid timber staircase that leads you up into the heart of this dwelling.

ANNA CARIN Design

7. Traditional terrace entry
The charming features of the quaint terrace house have been celebrated in this entry, in Bondi Junction, NSW. It provides us a glimpse into the home life of interior designer Anna-Carin McNamara. The dual display ledge provides a beautiful place to situate precious photos and paintings. A clever window has been cut out in the hallway, opening the entry into the dining area and expanding the sense of space as you enter this home.

An entry can take you by the hand and lead you from the landscape, the positioning of the building and the public image of your dwelling into the intimate space that is the home.

TELL US
What sort of entry space do you have or would like to celebrate in your home? Let us know in the comments section.

MORE
Designs for Living: Entrances Set Up to Serve You
Transform Your Home’s Entrance From Daggy to Dazzling in Just One Week
How to Make Your Hallway Work Its Socks Off