Hidden Studio is a 646-square-foot guesthouse that overlooks both the hinterland and Pacific Ocean. Designed by local practice Harley Graham Architects, the small dwelling responds to two existing buildings on the same property—a family house and a writer’s cabin.

The new guest retreat—along with the main house and cabin, which were designed by late Sydney School architect Vale Ian McKay—are owned by retired journalist couple Colleen Ryan and Stephen Wyatt.

The couple were looking to create a new space for visiting family and friends that would dialogue the distinct Australian vernacular of the two existing McKay-designed dwellings on their property. They also wanted the studio to sensitively respond to its natural environment.

“We understood the need for professional architectural knowledge. We wanted a one-bedroom glass and Cor-Ten box that sat up in a rainforest canopy. The Harley Graham team delivered just that with a lot more style,” says Wyatt.

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The entrance to the studio is accessed via a low ramp on the top of the slope. On the opposite side, facing a sea of trees, is a fully glazed wall that makes the compact, one-bedroom retreat feel incredibly open.

“By carefully considering the orientation of the studio, the large glass façade is protected from low morning sunlight, whilst capturing desirable northern winter sun as the day progresses. The angled ‘crank’ in the portals makes the roof appear to float over the pavilion, forming a large protective plate and further opening the space,” notes Graham.

Project Credits:

Architecture: Harley Graham Architects / @hga.architects

Builder: Gary Harvey

Structural engineering: Phillip Wallace

Photography: Andy Macpherson