Secret garden
The owners sought a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces for this home – in response, split levels are connected by a tranquil courtyard
Designed by Dalecki Design
From the architect:
The owners of this home approached Dalecki Design with a simple brief: to create a comfortable, sunlit home centred around their spirited family.
Preferencing a generous backyard over a large built footprint, the owners sought a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, while ensuring the home could accommodate their evolving living needs for many years to come.
While the block is due north, the home embraces an eastern orientation, with a northern central courtyard to create privacy and refuge for the young family.
The front elevation acknowledges the streetscape’s scale with a geometric composition of off-form concrete blades and crisp rendered walls, interspersed with black steel framing and deep timber-lined reveals – the look is contemporary, restrained and enduring.
Upon entry, the site’s natural slope is embraced with a thoughtful, stepped plan.
The main bedroom, study/guest bedroom and bathroom flank the entry passage, descending to a generous kitchen, dining, and living area – saturated in monochromatic yet tactile materials.
A consistent ceiling height runs throughout, which, combined with the lowered floor plane, offers a playful expansion of space as one moves through the property.
The home’s split levels are skilfully connected by a tranquil courtyard – fondly named the ‘secret garden’ by the children – which playfully unites indoor and outdoor settings and draws natural light and ventilation deep into the home.
A double-sided fireplace cocoons the living space from the kitchen and dining zones, crafting a tranquil escape suspended between the lush courtyard and manicured back lawn.
This spatial arrangement casts long sight lines through the home, generating a sense of living amongst the garden, and encouraging connection, whimsy and play between family members.
To the rear, a tiered deck links the kitchen and dining zone to an alfresco pavilion bounded by concrete breeze walls – encouraging seamless indoor/outdoor living and entertaining with family and friends.
Intersecting concrete slabs accentuate the fall of the site, descending to the lap pool and double car garage, efficiently accessed via a rear right-of-way.
The home’s upper level is designed as a dedicated children's zone; a haven to play, learn and explore.
Comprising three bedrooms with built-in desks and robes, a lounge area, bathroom, powder room and games cupboard, this self-contained space is future-proofed to provide additional privacy and independence as the children grow.
With deep material contrasts further binding the interior and exterior, this home crafts a warm and cohesive family home skilfully woven around pockets of garden – places to come together, entertain, retreat to, or play.
Though compact in scale, logical planning creates a feeling of generosity and connection, delivering quiet, calm and dynamic spaces for the whole family to enjoy.
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