Modern Australian Homes Part Four

The Half Full table and bench are by Ross Gardam.

The built-in storage bench under the stairs is clad in wood paneling painted with Companion by Dulux. Photo by Phu Tang.

The other side of the living room opens onto a light-filled entryway. Flowers by Lisa Cooper; rug by Loom. Photo by Phu Tang.

Architect Chris Knapp of Built-Environment Practice designed and completed construction of the Dragonfly within six months. Photo by Owen McGoldrick.

This project engages the occupant in a dialogue between extensive views of the Pacific Ocean and Lennox Head, in contrast with immediate snapshots of the rocky hillside on which the project is grounded,” Knapp says. Photo by Owen McGoldrick.

Australian firm Carterwilliamson Architects converted a 19th-century cow shed into a residence that implements passive heating and cooling principles. "Our clients share a vision for gregarious family life which is reflected in their home. The spaces are truly ‘open plan. Each room is connected to the others and to the sunny, green courtyard that acts as a natural extension of the living spaces," says firm principal Shaun Carter.

A band of clerestory windows illuminates the interior. The walls are recycled brick, whose thermal mass insulates the house. "One of the most challenging aspects of the build was negotiating a tight budget; however it was also one of the most exciting aspects and led in part to the refined palette of raw materials which give the home so much of its character and echo the pastural vernacular of the old cow shed," says Carter.