Hood House is a playful protector that respects the heritage character of Carlton North whilst celebrating purposeful change. It is a luxurious yet compact and hyper-functional home defined by an exploration of contrast: it is ornamental and restrained, subdued and lively, stately and casual, compartmental and open. For us, it is also a project with an unusual history. This dual-natured renovation evolved through the ownership of two separate clients. Originally intended to accommodate the needs of a young family of four, we shifted gears at the eleventh hour and adapted a thoroughly resolved design solution to the needs of only two. From a young, nuclear family to a blended adult one, our design solution was put to a test of flexibility. The result is a subtle renovation almost invisible from the street yet dramatic in its expressive qualities. An oblique view from the northwest reveals the playful zigzag of the new roof, the rippling metal hood. This is a form-making exercise that connects old to new as well as establishing spatial drama in what might otherwise have been utilitarian rooms upstairs. A simple palette of Australian hardwood timbers and white surfaces are complimented by tactile splashes of brass and rich moments of colour that reveal themselves from behind closed doors. Our internal joke is that Hood House is like Lazarus, risen from the ashes. We’re grateful that almost six years of hard work have culminated in this beautiful, protective and playful house, and so pleased that Glenda and Alistair get to call it home.

Photo of a contemporary two-storey beige house exterior in Sydney with wood siding and a gable roof.

Photo of a transitional two-storey white house exterior in Melbourne with a gable roof and clapboard siding.

Twelve Black is a contemporary family home designed for comfort, function and quiet drama. The design centres around a refined black palette, softened by natural light and grounded in durable, low-maintenance materials—ideal for a busy family lifestyle. Open-plan living spaces connect seamlessly to the outdoors, with a functional layout that balances communal areas and private retreat zones. Thoughtfully detailed joinery, built-in storage and a flexible kitchen and dining hub support modern day-to-day living. While bold in appearance, the home’s simplicity allows family life to take centre stage.

Photo of a contemporary one-storey brick beige house exterior in Melbourne with a gable roof.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary two-storey brick white townhouse exterior in Geelong with a gable roof.

Photo of a contemporary white house exterior in Perth with a gable roof.

Large contemporary three-storey concrete brown duplex exterior in Other with a gable roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Part two storey and single storey extensions to a semi-detached 1930 home at the back of the house to expand the space for a growing family and allow for the interior to feel brighter and more joyful.

Design ideas for a large country two-storey grey house exterior in Other with a gable roof and a metal roof.

Inspiration for a contemporary two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Perth with a gable roof.

Large contemporary one-storey brick white exterior in Christchurch with a gable roof.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary two-storey brown exterior in Berlin with wood siding and a gable roof.

Photo of a contemporary two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Brisbane with mixed siding, a gable roof, a tile roof and a red roof.

This is an example of a large mediterranean two-storey adobe beige house exterior in Los Angeles with a gable roof and a tile roof.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary three-storey grey house exterior in Munich with wood siding, a gable roof, a tile roof, a black roof and clapboard siding.

The Black Barn is located between Milford-on-Sea and Barton-on-Sea in Hampshire. It is surrounded by open countryside and benefits from a spring-fed pond and views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. The combination of super-insulation and extensive on-site renewables and a large vegetable garden makes this a quasi off-grid house. Consent for this replacement dwelling on this sensitive site was obtained in 2021 by working closely with Jerry Davies Planning Consultancy. The rural setting was the driver for the ‘agricultural vernacular’ architectural forms. The barn volumes are clad in highly durable black corrugated Eternit fibre-cement panels, the colour referencing the history of the previous house on this site. Prior to World War II the previous house had been painted white, which made it a distinctive navigational landmark for the Luftwaffe. The house was painted black during the war and became known as “Black Cottage”. The south-east facing roof to the house is fitted with 44No. 335-watt Vridian Clearline Fusion in-roof solar panels with integrated VELUX roof lights. This 14.7kWp array provides the electricity for the ground source heat pump, day-to-day usage and electric vehicle charging with the surplus being stored in a 13.5kW Tesla Powerwall 2 home battery. The garage building has a further 16No. panels providing an additional 5.3kWp output. As a replacement dwelling in the green belt the gross internal area of the new house was limited to a maximum of 130% of the area of the original two-storey house. Ancillary guest accommodation is provided by virtue of Section 13 of the 1968 Caravan Act which allows for a mobile home of a maximum length of 20 metres, maximum width of 6.8 metres and maximum internal height of 3.05 metres (the annexe does not benefit from a vaulted ceiling in the way that the main house does). The garage building was granted consent as an outbuilding as part of the planning application and provides storage for equipment to tend to the 5.5 acre (2.26ha) site, part of which has been seeded to become a wildflower meadow. The front of the house is arranged as a vegetable garden / potager.

Foto: Michael Voit, Nußdorf
Design ideas for a large contemporary two-storey grey house exterior in Munich with wood siding, a gable roof, a tile roof, a grey roof and clapboard siding.

The rear extension is expressed as a simple gable form. The addition steps out to the full width of the block, and accommodates a second bathroom in addition to a tiny shed accessed on the rear facade. The remaining 2/3 of the facade is expressed as a recessed opening with sliding doors and a gable window.