IN THE raw

This forever family home exudes vitality and natural earthy beauty

- CARROL BAKER

This striking forever home speaks directly to family living, with plenty of spaces to gather together and quiet spaces to retreat to, along with ample room to entertain when friends drop by.

Before the project, there was a period-style solid brick adjoining pair of homes on a double block. Two homes with a common party wall. The new dwelling is a comfortable abode with lots of styles. Director of mckimm, Lorenzo Garizio, says the design was inspired by an appreciation of the family's daily lifestyle flow. "It's an intuitive design with seamless flow and visual connection of spaces within a sense of privacy and seclusion," he shares.

The owners were also looking to create a dwelling constructed from robust materials that could withstand the demands of daily use. Architect Danica Garizio from mckimm says the home mixes rigour with imagination. "It starts by connecting the family with their immediate surroundings, creating the built form and then enhancing the relationship for years to come," she explains. While creating ample spaces to facilitate interactive family life was important, a separately zoned parents' retreat offers mum and dad a place to relax. It is light-filled and oriented to maximise views across the courtyard.

The home is constructed from a palette of concrete, timber, and metals, a mix of raw natural materials. Danica says the home offers a distinct visual identity with a balance of materials. "Round Choreography is cohesive and synonymous with mckimm homes, demanding precision and attention to detail," she shares.

Environmental considerations were also addressed, with solar shelves to harness the seasonal movement of the sun, and thermal mass principles were achieved along with punctuated ceiling and void volumes.