Alex and Georgie Cleary – brother and sister duo behind fashion brand Alpha60 – recently extended their creativity beyond fashion and retail design to remodel their Melbourne home. And nine months of renovations has done nothing to quell their appetite for big projects, as Alice Blackwood finds out.

Fusing elements of European neo-classical architecture with modern interiors designed to showcase a stunning collection of Aboriginal artwork, this palatial home satisfies every necessity and desire.

A charmingly jumbled bar in Melbourne combines food and drinks with the opportunity to buy anything not nailed down (and even a few things that are).

Looking to accommodate a growing family, architect Ilana Kister wanted urban rather than suburban. Stephen Crafti thinks her made-over inner-suburban warehouse in Melbourne fits the bill perfectly.

Can a four-hour journey inside an interior space embrace the essence of a city? Wynn A. Bay visits the Rattanakosin Exhibition in Bangkok to find out.

Estranged from the ruckus of tourist-ridden Phuket City, the stunning new Naka Phuket resort seduces guests amidst a sensuously crafted haven hovering between the sea and the mountainside. Adele Chong reports.

This frugal renovation and expansion of a beach shack yields a warm extended family retreat teeming with beautiful local timbers.

The inner-Sydney suburb of Newtown continues to resist gentrification, especially down near the railway line where architect, Jon Jacka has built a house for himself and his family. Paul McGillick discovers a house which reflects its mercurial context.

The alteration of a home in Selangor, Malaysia by Design Collective Architects (featured in Habitus 19), transforms a generic urban villa into a unique and intelligently designed dwelling.

Elana Castle discovers a charitable initiative that is also an up-cycled design triumph in the heart of Melbourne Central.

The relationship of Glenn Murcutt’s houses to the landscape is not so much holding hands as the lightest of touches. But Paul McGillick suggests this holiday house in the Blue Mountains positively embraces its context.

Since changes to liquor licensing laws back in 2007, the bar scene in Western Australia has been evolving. Located in East Fremantle, The Wine Store is a great addition to this burgeoning scene and adds a spectacular (corkscrew) twist! Carly Barrett reports.

For Bangkok-based writer Nikki Busuttil, a short trip to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand to meet Torlarp Larpjaroensook became an immersion in art.

Designed by Dean Herald of Rolling Stone Landscapes, this garden overlooking Sydney Harbour creates a beautiful outdoor living and entertaining area replete with a comprehensive outdoor kitchen and entertainment system.

Nestled amongst the treetops in Sydney’s Upper North Shore, Kings Apartments, Roseville feature 23 luxury apartments that show the architect’s skill at integrating the building with its environment. Belinda Aucott reports.

Laid out according to the ancient philosophy of the five elements, this restaurant in Hainan Island resurrects the luxury and prestige of China’s imperial past and presents it in a refined, contemporary incarnation.

Pepo Botanic Design have created a garden in Paddington, designed to integrate outdoor and indoor living spaces.

Expansive, modern and precise, this inner-city apartment marries an unequivocally urban context with unexpected tranquility.

Nestled within Sydney’s Avalon Angophora reserve, this warm and serene home combines superb timbers, masterful carpentry and a magnificent location.

Out of the ashes of Victoria’s horrific Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 new homes have been built as part of an architect-based scheme. Mark Scruby visits one such house based on a model designed by Jackson Clements Burrows with interiors by Doherty Lynch.

A Brisbane fit out retains the humble charm of a weatherboard dwelling while layering it with crisp modern elements to create a stimulating and disparate venue.

A development in Melbourne’s suburb of Donvale promises the tranquility of a natural setting, the convenience of inner city living and the latest in environmentally friendly architecture and design.

Indian architects, Studio Mumbai, are attracting international attention for the integrity and imagination of their projects. Here, Kerstin Rose is taken through a recent project and introduced to how the practice thinks.

A playfully riotous kaleidoscope of the world’s footpath cuisines brings a splash of international flavour to the South Coast.

Poised on the edge of Bangalore’s buzzing city centre, a scientist’s suburban sanctuary emerges as a succession of inside and outside spaces, accentuated by lively punctuations of landscape. Adele Chong reports.

With a portfolio of hotels and serviced apartments established in Hong Kong, Ovolo Hotels expands into Australia with the launch of The Ovolo in Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. Alice Blackwood reports.

A Perth renovation celebrates heritage qualities while enhancing them with contemporary flourishes. Carly Barrett reports.

A Singapore home designed for flexibility demonstrates sensitivity to its environment and a beautiful pairing of coarse and refined textures.

A new restaurant in Sydney’s CBD pairs the hallowed traditions of Japanese cuisine with bold, contemporary interiors

Rolling Stone Landscapes have created a lush and relaxing outdoor area to accompany a modern home.

Referencing the textures of history and circumstance, a beautifully renovated family home ensures comfort and flexibility for current and future generations.

Little Hunter, the new Melbourne grill house, brings a haunch of New York hospitality to the CBD.

Founders of Melbourne cordwainer Double Monk, Christopher and Nick Schaerf, are not only filling a market gap for men’s footwear, they’re fulfilling a lifelong appreciation for quality craftsmanship and “shoes that fit perfectly”. Alice Blackwood reports.

Beautiful, welcoming and environmentally friendly, this Malaysian home demonstrates how architectural mastery can satisfy seemingly disparate requirements without compromise.

Happening now, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival has an exciting installation by Australian design firm HASSELL. Ben Morgan speaks to the designers about their Urban Coffee Farm.

Pop philosopher Alain de Botton’s School of Life has opened its first international branch in Australia. Situated just off Smith Street in Collingwood, Melbourne, the School is busy hosting a hoard of students for a temporary, pop-up 10-week summer term. By Linda Cheng.

Evocative of a very attractive cave, Sydney’s Monopole restaurant is warm and thoughtfully arranged.

A polished and generous family home graces a quintessential Queensland landscape.

A New Delhi salon tempers bold industrial aesthetics with a refined, artisanal finish.

The latest addition to Shanghai’s iconic Bund, the Indigo Hotel samples old and introduces to new to create an eclectically stylish change of pace from its more traditional neighbours.

A snug fit out on a busy Carlton street creates a bright, intimate café.

Starting with a large plot of land in Chiangmai, Thailand and filling only part of it with a home has created a meditative private space amidst a communal, recreational one.

The tried and tested warehouse-to-apartment conversion finds its Queensland incarnation.

Hot with head-turning architecture but chilled in vibe, Newcastle is relishing its renaissance. This vibrant surfside city makes for an intriguing weekend getaway, discovers Melissa Rimac.

Elana Castle happens upon a 34 square metre oasis in the heart of semi-industrial Alexandria.

Promoting a deeper understanding of the cultural nuances involved in winemaking, a new retail concept for wine stores in Hong Kong has created modern, accessible boutiques.

A revitalised indoor courtyard inspires the rebirth of a contemporary home in Manila. Adele Chong reports.

Located in a tranquil setting with natural bush land providing the backdrop, Dean Herald of Rolling Stone Landscapes has created a stunning oasis in a rural landscape.

New Zealand’s wild, windswept south attracted rugged individuals. Their verve remains vividly imprinted in the escapist beach huts of the Catlins Coast. Melissa Rimac reports

Clean volumes, abundant light and inviting textures create a warm, serene dwelling.

Wynn A. Bay trespasses into a fusion of defense, surrealist design and a mythical war epic.

Surrounded by pristine beaches, this soulful NSW south coast sanctuary sates the need for retreat in timeless style. By Melissa Rimac

A refreshingly far cry from stuffy, predictable hotel restaurants, Sydney Four Seasons’ The Woods creates a warmly refined sanctuary for guests and visitors alike.

A lacklustre 1960s brick house in Sydney’s North Bondi is transformed into an unconventionally modern home.

The north side expansion of St. Ali Coffee reproduces the signature excellence of the Melbourne institution’s brew in a spacious, modern and warm environment.

A dramatically restored colonial mansion in Penang makes history by marrying quirky designs with upscale hospitality, writes Adele Chong.

A Brisbane fit out characterised by one family, two architects, a three-bedroom unit and a lot of black, white and reflective surfaces.

A new Brisbane bar, restaurant and cafe revels in its jumbled playfulness, careening through a multitude of themed spaces to create a uniquely interesting venue. Jenna Reed Burns reports.

A new hotel by WOW Architects in the south Indian metropolis celebrates progressive architecture and design while remaining sensitive to its human and environmental context.

A clean, minimalist apartment in Singapore by MOMO + Partners celebrates open volumes, considered materiality and pared back colours.

Art Deco meets Bamboo groves in a game of repetition and abstraction. Wynn A. Bay reports.

Like everyone else, the tourism industry has to work harder and harder to differentiate from competition. And competition means good things for Design Hunter travellers – there are some great initiatives out there to take advantage of.

A simple and gracious family home in the Adelaide Hills suburb of Woodside demonstrates how a modest space can be imbued with warmth.

Following the success of their Double Bay fit-out, Optique commissioned Smart Design Studio to design the optometry practice’s Potts Point location. William Smart of Smart Design Studio shares the design details with Elana Castle.

10 years of ideas, 2 years of design and construction, and painstaking attention to detail combine to create a uniquely beautiful and fascinating home.

A recent installation for the launch of a spring collection injected a new and vibrant aesthetic into the hosting store while resonating with the new products.

Gourmet food trucks are sprouting up in locations throughout the city. Elana Castle meets the owners of Cantina Mobil and Veggie Patch Van to discuss the design challenges and opportunities inherent in creating roving kitchens with designer credentials.

Converting a run down pub into a champagne bar on a modest budget may seem daunting, but at One Moncur the results speak for themselves.

A modern addition to an Edwardian home in Melbourne updates and expands the dwelling with a luminous, ample space that can accommodate the varied uses of a busy young family.

A newly opened gem of a hotel in Bangkok pairs stunning river views with New World luxury and Old World decadence. Adele Chong catches some of the glitter dust.

A richly decorated brasserie in Sydney’s historic Rocks district blends Parisian flea-market finds, some exposed brick grit and a liberal splash of glamour.

A long established destination in South Yarra, The Como Melbourne undergoes a carefully considered renovation. Alice Blackwood reports.

In Habitus 18 Paul McGillick explores a Newtown house by panovscott architects. Their statement regarding the project demonstrates a keen sensitivity both to the specific site and to the broader context of the home, and we believe it is a valuable and stimulating document in its own right.

A new timber bach by architect Michael O’Sullivan pays homage to the land and its history. In Habitus 18 Andrea Stevens visits the Karekare site and finds a warmly crafted weekend retreat.

Architect Peter Stutchbury’s Avalon home of 26 years hints at many of the stylistic signatures that have defined his career since, deftly applying a modern touch to the Australian coastal environment.

The Semara Uluwatu Luxury Villa Resort presents a novel approach to boutique vacationing, blending the best of a private residence with a full range of hotel-like services, all in a beautifully curated environment.

Stephanie Madison takes a deliciously buttery tour through Emporium Hotel’s award-winning Belle Epoque Patisserie.

Working with the template of a single-fronted Victorian house, DX Architects have maintained a heritage façade while expanding and reconfigured the space into a clean, modern home punctuated by design flourishes.

Bright, light and inviting, the Habbot store in Armadale creates a superb showcase for the brand’s shoes while providing a welcoming and comfortable destination for customers.

The bygone glamour of 1930s Shanghai is re-elaborated with a contemporary touch in a boutique Bangkok hotel. Wynn A. Bay reports.

Ten years from its inception, Australian fashion brand Incu has flourished, with the opening of an inviting and sophisticated Melbourne store cementing its reputation for originality and aesthetic sensitivity. Alicia Sciberras reports.

George & Allen, a projected development in Sydney’s Warerloo, promises a refreshing space and luminosity to inner-city apartments.

Combining a background in Corporate Project management and years of experience in renovations, Linda Delaney delivers elegant and functional interior solutions that make efficient use of time and money.

A new eatery above The Forresters Pub in Sydney’s Surry Hills demonstrates how imagination and resourcefulness can overcome tight budgets to imbue a space with character.

Balancing a brand new build, the client’s sentimental attachment to the previous structure and specific spatial and circulatory desires, Nexus Designs have created an inviting beach house on the Bellarine Peninsula that cleverly incorporates a variety of design and sustainability features.

Combining raw, industrial interiors with a sophisticated elevation of home-style north Italian cuisine, The Meatball & Wine Bar creates a modern and welcoming dining experience.

Designed to correspond with its tropical island setting, a new eco-resort in East Malaysia brings one back to the basics, one luxurious step at a time. Adele Chong reports.

Completed in 1972, the Gissing House is an excellently preserved example of Harry Seidler’s style at the fullness of his maturity and confidence.

The PH1 bar and restaurant is a splashed canvas of art and music, not for the faint of heart. Wynn A. Bay reports.

An empty plot facing Manly Lagoon, a flexible brief and the Asian sensitivities of the client provide the raw materials for Vaughan Architects to create a stunning pair of serene, modern homes.

The Perth CBD has entered a new phase of culinary experience with the opening of Print Hall at Brookfield Place, along its central St George’s Terrace

Light, volume and flexible boundaries in this Sydney home allow internal spaces to connect seamlessly with their outdoor surrounds.

Interior architect Pascale Gomes-McNabb’s contemporary re-design for Claude’s, an established, fine dining restaurant in Woollahra, reflects the establishment’s new culinary direction. By Elana Castle.

A fit out of a compact Melbourne apartment demonstrates how an open layout and efficient design can expand and brighten a home.

Melissa Rimac peeks behind the facades of a South Island town’s captivating streetscapes.

Reviewed in Habitus 19, this luxurious Singapore residential project updates conventional notions of conservation development while inviting the luscious rainforest setting into living spaces.

Foley Lane, a new Tapas restaurant in Sydney’s Darlinghurst, sets itself apart with an understated and charmingly worn space punctuated by curated details.

A passion for old world charm and an arduous search for authentic materials elevate the Visvim flagship store in Singapore far above the average fashion boutique.

A sensitivity for where best to concentrate clients’ resources and strong relationships with craftsmen and contractors allowed CplusC architects to create a modern, elegant home rich with character and well-suited to its inhabitants.

Habitus Editor Paul McGillick revisits the iconic architecture of the Northern Sydney suburb of Castlecrag.

David Boyle Architects execute an admirable transformation of a poor quality, unattractive brick bungalow into a modern and inviting family home.

Bangkok is notoriously frenetic, and the serenity of the Chao Phraya River has long been swallowed by the rapid urban expansion. In a few places, however, the historic tranquillity of river life can still be glimpsed. Wynn A. Bay reports.

Deftly mixing elements of different styles, Trocadero evades definition while transmitting elegance, refinement and warmth.

Sunshine, ventilation and natural textures combine to create a home that is consistent with the Queensland lifestyle while offering the flexibility and innovation of modern design.

Bird de la Coeur’s modern, comfortable and well-executed development in South Yarra is elevated by 1950′s elegance and a holistic vision of residents’ lifestyles.

If you’re going to stay in Sydney’s most iconic beach suburb, do it like a local, says Habitus Deputy Editor Nicky Lobo.

Referencing the timber shacks of past-century Australian coastlines, this comfortable family home updates the iconic Australian beach dwelling with contemporary urban finesse.

A south Melbourne development illustrates how discerning attention to detail can create understated, refined residences.

Textured fabrics, native timbers and warm lighting transform a Brighton home from intimidating to inviting.

Lorenzo Logi explores the shifting balance of power between east and west as represented by modern Asian architecture and design.

A home designed to recreate the spirit of camp life evokes the family hearth while demonstrating that a modest budget and square footage can yield a refined, ample space. By Lorenzo Logi.

The Projects* latest popup brings the hugely successful Masterchef series to life with a striking temporary restaurant in an iconic Sydney location.

Hot on the heels of the recently launched Misschu Underground, The Queen of Rice Paper Rolls has just opened her latest eatery in Bondi. Elana Castle finds out more.

At Popolo the simple pleasures of Southern Italy are housed in a hip new space by Neil Bradford Interiors, as Belinda Aucott reports.

A boldly modern property set in a stunning natural context abounds with refinement and luxury while realising a range of sustainability principles

Reclaimed materials used in unexpected ways is the theme behind a Perth popup as part of the activation of the city’s new Brookfield Place precinct, explains Ravi Jensen.

A Singapore home conceptualised as a three-dimensional 9-grid square is an exercise in balance, efficiency and precision.

An expansion/alteration of a Melbourne eatery creates an ample, inviting space evocative of the effortless charm of Italy’s neighbourhood pizzerias.

Elana Castle discovers that the interior for new Paul Smith boutique in Melbourne, is a fitting representation of the fashion guru’s global brand.

An elegant, humble and intelligent project, this timber home showcases environmental stewardship, sensitivity to local culture and a keen desire to inhabit its context without dominating it.

Best viewed at night, the Longtable celebrates Bangkok’s illuminated cityscape with a Thai inspired design and, obviously, a really long table. Wynn A. Bay reports.

Elana Castle discusses the interiors of the newly opened Casa Ciuccio in Fitzroy with designer Brett Tuer.

Situated in the Parahyangan Rumah Villa estate in Bandung, Indonesia, this compact, extroverted home demonstrates how good design can integrate unique aesthetics with practical functionalism.

Just outside the hustle of Bangkok is a surprising new eco-retreat that allows guests to re-connect with nature. By Mandi Keighran

Kevin Borland’s vibrantly innovative series of buildings for the Preshil school have lost none of their charm and continue to complement the educational philosophies they are host to.

An elegant, private residence perfectly suited to tropical relaxation.

Hear from Architect Rachel Neeson as she takes By Design’s Janne Ryan on a tour of the award-winning Castlecrag project.

The Buchan group continues its collaboration with the Leukaemia Foundation Queensland with a patient accommodation village in Brisbane.

In its ninth year, the Australian Interior Design Awards have named restaurants Graze and KHA, by Melbourne design firm Hecker Guthrie, Best International Design. Hayley Davis has the story.

Amid the un-reconstituted heritage that harks back to the spice trading heyday, this genteel icon melds the stately languor of Old Ceylon with an ethereal elegance. Melissa Rimac takes the time tunnel.

A renovation of an inner city Sydney terrace fuses heritage details with creative use of internal and external space to construct a friendly family home.

A meticulous renovation of a heritage Sydney building creates an elegant, inviting hotel.

A recent fit out of a 1921 bank building in Melbourne delivers a warm, spacious eatery rich in charm.

A weekend home overlooking lake Taal combines a panoramic natural context with a contemporary interpretation of traditional Philippino architecture.

A stylishly industrial eatery in Bondi evokes Panama’s past while offering a pan-american gastronomic experience.

Park Hotels’ signature fusion of luxury and design arrives in Goa, India, with this quirky, playful boutique hotel.

Elana Castle discovers a welcoming and well-designed eatery in the Melbourne CBD.

A thoughtful, finely executed fusion of styles and forms yields an elegantly understated home rich in hidden details.

A drastic and decisive intervention extracts a clean, modern space from it’s dusty cocoon.

The paradisiacal resort adds eight luxury bungalows to its accommodation offerings.

A renovation by Michael Bechara Design simultaneously updates this Sydney home while underscoring it’s deco charm.

The well-loved brasserie is refreshed and updated, delivering a winning combination of clean, curated aesthetics and gastronomic innovation.

Love an atmospheric Pacific or Asian retreat but hate leaving your dog behind? These tropical north Queensland sanctuaries will surely hit the spot. Melissa Rimac reports.

Habitus Deputy Editor, Nicky Lobo dropped in to the pop-up canteen last week and found much more than an eatery.

Aesop evokes old world elegance in it’s new Collins Street, Melbourne store.

The collaborative efforts of owner Mario Kalpou, interior designers Hecker Guthrie and stylist Sibella Court transform an iconic Cronulla building into an elegantly modern restaurant.

A collaboration between Deka and Scott Street Apartments yields an open, luminous space with with an eclectically modern feel.

Destiny Deacon explores her past and present in a new collection of photography, video and sculpture.

With scores of participating brands, special events and appearances by designers, Brisbane Indesign is set to showcase the best local and international design.

With the rich iconography of the ‘dia de los muertos’ as an aesthetic backdrop and a selection of regional cuisine, Señoritas offers an authentic Mexican experience.

History, context and adaptation reveal a simple, modern apartment in Singapore’s historic Joo Chiat. Peter Sim of FARM tells Ben Morgan the story of The Brick Loft.

Neometro and KPDO’s latest collaboration has created a luminous, contemporary house replete with amenities and design ingenuity.

Located in the suburb of Parkdale, the new art space combines a minimalist layout with technological sophistication.

A thoughtfully modest family home on the Brisbane River demonstrates how small houses can capitalise on the qualities of their site while fitting in with their surroundings.

The Grounds’ coffee-guru Jack Hanna tells Habitusliving about what makes their brew special.

Punctuating eastern Tasmania’s pristine coastline, the Marion Bay House revels in it’s panoramic setting while showcasing natural materials and architectural expertise.

When Bruce Rickard died in September 2010, Australia lost one its finest architects. Accompanied by Bruce, Paul McGillick visited his last completed house and found he was innovating right to the end.

A celebration of this most ancient of fibers, Wool Modern explores the aesthetic, environmental and technical virtues of wool in the 21st century.

The Park Hotels land in Kerala’s historic maritime trading hub.

Iconic interiors brand Missonihome teams up with Philippines developer Century Properties to create unique and colorful private residences.

A celebration of community, local produce and personalized cooking was the call of last Sunday evening at the inaugural ‘Grow it Local’ supper held at the Three Blue Ducks restaurant in Bronte. Alicia Sciberras reports from the food-fare.

In Habitus 15 we meet Barbara Sansoni, owner of Barefoot Gallery in Colombo. Barefoot recently opened its very own PhotoGallery, where works by Barbara’s photographer son, Dominic, are currently on display.

Locally-inspired aesthetics, computer modeling and ecological sensitivity come together in India’s gem and textile capital.

Set in the wooded, waterfront Hobart suburb of Sandy Bay, the Boot Leg Reserve House exemplifies simple, cost-effective construction techniques that produce a luminous and elegant family home.

Joining a host of small new Sydney bars taking a fun approach to design, Darlie Laundromatic aims to create a ‘friend’s living room’ vibe, as Amanda Vallis reports.

Just a little hard to find, this warmly lit, carefully decorated lounge fuses Japanese cocktail lore with modern Spanish cuisine.

In this month’s Habitus magazine we go inside architect Ilana Kister’s home in Melbourne. Today on Habitusliving.com, we explore another projects from the same architect in Richmond, Victoria. Let’s take a peek inside.

Barely a month after opening their Fitzroy showroom Great Dane invites The SuperCool to setup their mobile emporium in a loading dock.

France’s foremost contemporary design museum adds ‘Icarus’, an installation by New Zealand desiner David Trubridge, to it’s permanent collection.

Opera Australia’s highly anticipated production delivers a captivating, unique experience.

A large collection of mid-Century furniture and art informed the design for this Auckland house by Andrea Bell of Pete Bossley Architects. Andrea Stevens finds more than just earthy 50s tones, in this energy efficient and sustainably built family home.

Architect and artist Marr Grounds lives in a self-sufficient retreat fit for a king on the far south coast of Sydney. Caroline Baum made the journey there to find a place where life, art and the landscape are indistinguishable.

Architect Juliana Chan describes her apartment in Brookvale Walk, Singapore as “a little hidden gem”. And Darlene Smyth agrees that she and her interior designer husband, Tristan Tan, have miraculously turned a sow’s ear into a silk purse.

With a baby on the way two architects were motivated to maximise the space and amenity of an already tight and efficient apartment in Sydney. Jane Burton Taylor tells us how they did it.

Multi-layered and multi-sensory, this unusual experience created by uber-chic stylist Faye Toogood is a resounding success.

In the next issue of Habitus we take a trip to Melbourne to look the architect Ilana Kister’s inner-suburban home. In Habitus #15 (out March 28) Stephen Crafti discusses how she made her warehouse in to an urban space that was practical for a young family.

The Upper House Hotel, a Swire Hotels project designed by Andre Fu, sits at the pinnacle of Hong Kong small luxury hotels.

Essential and pure, butter brings back memories of your grandmother’s dining table. Now Pepe de Saya revives a long lost taste.

Deutscher + Hackett is auctioning a diverse and important range of Aboriginal and Oceanic works of art.

The artistic couple return home to stimulate and reconfigure our notion of humanity’s place in both urban and wild settings.

Allen’s Rivulet House overlooks a wild bush valley and Mount Wellington in Hobart, Tasmania. Designed by Room 11 this thoughtful home was awarded the The Esmond Dorney Award for Residential Architecture in 2011.

Rekordelig cider teams up with photographer and blogger Caroline Blomst to present ‘Stockholm Street Style’, a photo exhibition of stylish Swedes.

The dream-like Puglia region and it’s Salento Peninsula coastline – the heel in the boot of Italy – is peppered with elegant towns, rich architecture, forts and varied exotic history. Jane Burton Taylor takes us on a tour of its sometimes arrestingly beautiful built environment, and to the other Gallipoli.

Ranging from caustic to cutesy, Penny Byrne’s creations demand consideration and reveal layers of meaning under often bizarre exteriors.

Melburnian Apartment by Carr Design is a pared back interior that speaks volumes for restraint.

Opera Australia stages a big, bold, outdoor production of La Traviata on Sydney Harbour.

A new decanter by Austrian glass-master, Riedel, and butcher, Victor Churchill, is nothing to snort at.

Anna Flanders steps into a new Perth pizzeria with a frugal approach to maximum-impact design.

Nestled in Bukit Timah Singapore, M-House provides the ideal balance between the needs for family bonding as well as for personal space.

Habitusliving takes a look around Sydney Art Month with Lorenzo Logi …

Habitus Editor, Paul McGillick, thinks the new hotel Hilton Surfers Paradise makes a visit to the Gold Coast all worthwhile.

Be enticed by the warm glow of candlelight coming from this cosy little restaurant in Surry Hills and you won’t be disappointed. Orto Trading Co. is an oasis of fresh seasonal food in a simple relaxed space, as Amanda Vallis reports.

The Diamant Hotel in Sydney has just added two new designer apartments by Connie Alessi.

Focusing on locally sourced goods, with an emphasis on small regional producers, Shop For The Soul sells a concise collection of quality pantry products, fresh ingredients and ready-made meals.

Started by Dennis Paphitis 25 years ago, Aesop has grown to become one of Australia’s best-known and most trusted skincare exports. This week on Habitusliving.com we review 25 years of quirky retail design and talk about their unique design ethos with Product Advocate Suzanne Santos.

Café by day and wine bar by night, Toby’s in Potts Point is a small space that makes a big impact.

Australia’s favourite pop-up restaurant festival, Taste of Sydney, is returning to the beautiful surrounds of Centennial Parklands from 8-11 March, 2012.

Separation Street by Jesse Linardi at dKO Architects is a great example of affordable architecture in Australia.

Kathryn McKusker and Tobias Partners have teamed up to create an urban yoga sanctuary in the eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Belinda Aucott has the story.

Returning from a few decades living abroad, businessman Nigel Timms was looking for a holiday home that would capture his nostalgia for his childhood in New Zealand.

Off the south-west coast of Thailand lies Phuket, a long time luxury escape for many a heat seeking tourist. It’s here you will find The Surin Phuket, a new resort that’s comprised of luxury beach cottages nestled in rainforest.

How does a new player stand out in the hospitality market? As Amanda Vallis reports perhaps the answer could lie in matching the food and wine menu with an interesting fit-out.

Find out why 47 million tourists visit New York each year when you take part in one of Susan Weir’s hand-picked Food + Design tours of the Big Apple.

In Habitus 18 we explore Tasmania, and as Belinda Aucott discovers, a big metal roller door in downtown Hobart is hiding an oasis for food lovers.

A relatively modern split-level terrace house in Bondi Beach was refurbished and enhanced by MCK Architects in 2010.

Deer Duck Bistro in Auchenflower is a new suburban restaurant that feels a world apart from many of Brisbane’s other light-filled restaurants as Katrina Blowers reports.

Patane House by Bureau Proberts was designed for a close knit, young family in Queensland.

Travel to 1770, a tiny village 120 kms north of Bundaberg, Queensland and you will find artist Marian Drew tucked away in her holiday home, Katrina Blowers has the story

Anna Flanders meets the Fremantle architectural firm behind one of India’s first five-star resorts in Kerala.

Singaporean hotelier Loh Lik Peng breathes life into an East London architectural icon, creating the perfect design hunter escape. Ben Morgan visits one of the most exciting hotels in the English capital

They move in very different circles – he in the corporate world, she in the visual arts. But Brian and Gene Sherman form a powerful partnership weaving together the arts, business and philanthropy.

Located on 8.8 hectares of land, within easy reach of azure waters of Nusa Dua, The St. Regis Bali Resort is a deluxe holiday escape by any measure.

Luke Nguyen’s family escaped Vietnam as boat people in 1978, first to Thailand where Luke was born, before ending up in Sydney’s Vietnamese hub of Cabramatta.

An iconic food lovers’ destination has arrived in Brisbane, planting itself in the relaxed confines of the Parklands, South Bank.

There’s nothing more intoxicating than entering a new city and having the jewels of the city presented to you by a local. And that’s exactly what Susan Weir and her team have done with their Food & Design travel tours.

The iconic Clovelly Bowling greens gave backdrop to the launch of an all- Australian cider from Mittagong NSW.

Singapore-based architecture practice WOHA is currently showing an inspiring exhibition at the German Architecture Museum in Frankfurt.

Acclaimed Australian painter Gary Shead, winner of both the Archibald and Dobell prizes, has just announced his next art workshop will take place in Ubud, Bali.

This clever transformation of an old Singapore home shows modern sensibility and good green thinking.

Popov Bass Architects’ integrated approach to design provided Deirdre Huntley and her family with seamlessly harmonised space for their house in Mosman, Sydney. Here, she takes us through some of her favourite pieces.

Groundbreaking electronic artist Rafael Lozono-Hemmer has today unveiled his exhibition Recorders to the Sydney public.

A house and its contents becomes, over time, a collection of things and ideas that represent a personal journey. For Thai designer, architect and photographer, Varakan Tipprapa, this curation was a very conscious response to his own questions about the purpose of a designer.

When Singapore belatedly began to value its built heritage, the traditional shophouse suddenly became much sought-after with some stunning make-overs. Richard Ho, a specialist in conservation projects, previously carried out a beautiful renovation to a shophouse in Penang. Darlene Smyth looks at an equally elegant one in Singapore.

The career of Singapore-based Nathan Yong has had many incarnations. Best known for founding successful furniture design and manufacture company, Air Division, he is now branching out into new areas. Kirsty de Garis talks to him about sculpture, Singapore and simplicity

Houses are usually built quite quickly in Singapore, but an extended timeframe can be an advantage. Chu Lik Ren visits a home designed by Formwerkz Architects for an artist friend and his family, which allowed many details to develop organically throughout the process.

By re-inventing tropical architecture to fit a modern context, architect Aamer Taher has endowed a resort-like appeal on this four-level bungalow in Singapore. At the same time, says Madhavi Tumkur, he has ensured that it is also a home to three generations of residents.

Architect Pongsakorn Kitkajornpong has created two distinct living areas in this ‘housing compound’ in Thailand. Tonkao Panin explores the way the activities of a family have shaped the spaces in which they live.

The distance between Belgium and Bangkok is more than just physical. For Pieter Compernol, it’s a journey that inspired a new life and a table-obsessed business built on an imaginary personality – Nicky Lobo meets P.Tendercool.

The owners of this house came to architect, Kitchai Jitkhajornwanich, saying: “We’ve bought an old house and need to re-program it to fit our lives.” Tonkao Panin reveals what happened next.

This house by Kanoon Studio is nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood of Bangkok. Known for their distinctive design, Chartchalerm Klieopatinon and Vasuvat Mettapun here offer an alternative solution for an urban home.

Mama San, Bali by Caroline Usher for the Sarong Group.

The award-winning 26 Cable Road residence in Singapore by ip:li architects brings the best aspects of the ‘kampong’ or village life gently into the present. Janice Seow has this story.

Kanika R’kul led a wave of overseas-trained Thai architects who returned home to address the issue of how to design a contemporary Thai house without losing connection with traditional values. Tonkao Panin reviews her career.

When architect Boonlert Hemvijitraphan created a weekend house for Thai actress Acharapan Paiboonsuvan he transformed two old timber houses into a pavilion in two parts. Tonkao Panin discovers a house that has grown with its surrounding environment.

The beauty of reclaimed and recycled timber is only partly aesthetic – the knowledge of its former function adds a whole other appeal. Jaz Sidhu visited the island of Langkawi in Malaysia and discovered a home designed by Building Bloc (who’s Desa House is featured in Habitus 18) that generates new life for old timber electricity poles.

Even in Asia, the extended family is giving way to the nuclear family. But there are still architects – and clients – wanting to explore the possibility of housing, if only on a temporary basis, the extended family. Typically, these experiments involve the idea of compound housing.

This addition to a house in Damansara Heights outside Kulala Lumpur in Malaysia is by a small, young two-man practice, RT+Q Architects. For Joanne Goh it is a revealing example of how vernacular forms can be reinterpreted for contemporary purposes.

Paul McGillick discovers the intriguing inner-suburban Sydney home of architect Richard Peters.

Chenchow Little is an award-winning practice that has provided architectural and interior architecture services since 1994.

The newest addition to Perth’s nightlife has nested in one of the city’s most awarded developments. Anna Flanders reports.

The Waterhouse at South Bund, Shanghai puts a modern twist on a converted warehouse.

Oxfam Ambassador, celebrity chef and restaurateur Kylie Kwong has designed her own range of fair trade tableware.

Voted by TIME Magazine as one of the Most Influential People of 2010, chef David Chang knows a thing or two about opening a knock-out restaurant. This week Belinda Aucott spoke to the head chef of Chang’s Sydney operation Ben Greeno about life making Korean fusion food Down Under.

Singapore-based architectural firm Ong&Ong has created a surprising contemporary residence by remodeling the inside of a three-story townhouse. 

Visual label Momorobo earned themselves considerable street cred without ever actually put up illegal pieces on streets of Singapore.

Thai Artist Torlarp Larpjaroensook is helping to transform the interior of new Melbourne Thai café using found objects and his innate creativity. Belinda Aucott has the story.  

Positioned in Melbourne’s Domain precinct, this residence meshes the character filled historic architecture with the crisp detailing of a modern addition.

From an award-winning converted winery in Austria, to cave houses in Thailand, and cliffside mansions in Phuket – a new era of designer travel has emerged that fuses hotel sophistication with a ‘live like a local philosophy’.

A luxury hotel on the footsteps of Parliament House.

Broached Commissions will launch in New South Wales this week with a beautiful exhibition being held at the former Paramount Pictures Building in Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills.

This week Architect Tonny Wirwan Suruadjaja from TWS and Partners spoke with Habitusliving.com about his Static House in Jakarta Indonesia. 

The Diamant Hotel Canberra is proud to present Bicicletta, an all new Italian bistro with the flavour of Venice in its veins! 

Acclaimed French Photographer Dimitri Daniloff this year teamed up with model Milla Jovovich to create the 2012 Campari Calendar. Daniloff caught up with Habitusliving.com this week to explain the striking ‘doomsday’ theme and his ongoing love affair with the Italian aperitif.

Revered Korean artist Hyung Koo Kang’s intense, hyperrealist portraits overwhelm and evoke an emotional response, though perhaps none are quite as haunting as that of his future 88-year-old self writes Janice Seow.

Surprising and enlightening, MCK has transformed a tiny double fronted cottage in
Queens Park into a clean line and dramatic residence.

A startling mix of Middle Eastern colours against perfect white gives this home its sense of ease and tranquil liveability.

This week an family home by Jackson Clements Burrows takes the unexpected approach of a Trojan Horse.

The Bellevue Hotel in Paddington has recently undergone makeover. Thanks to Curious and the Specimen, the upstairs bar has been transformed into a cosy whiskey salon.

Waterfall by Tokujin Yoshioka is currently on display at the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation until 15 December. Don’t miss the chance to see one of the world’s most inspired artists whilst his work is in Australia.

Since stumbling on his very own peculiar breed of visual narrative, photographer Stuart Spence has left the glamour of the photographic studio behind, and plunged himself deep in the dark world of artists and mystics. Belinda Aucott has the story.

Acclaimed Australian painter Gary Shead, winner of both the Archibald and Dobell prizes, has just announced his next art workshop will take place in Ubud, Bali.

Ola Bednarczuk heads to Bali and discovers a holiday resort that’s as much about design as it is about relaxation and wellbeing. 

Moët Ice Imperial was launched with ‘white chic’ sunset party on Thursday 13 October. The open-air location on the North Terrace of Sydney Opera House was a fitting location for guests to sample the new casual style of Champagne served over ice. 

With an earth-bound and rustic style, this water-side Coogee house is based on the traditional Cape Dutch fishing village houses found on the South African west coast. 

Daniel Marshall Architects creates Korora House, New Zealand

Awkward Beauty is an interdisciplinary art project between jewellery designer Helen Britton, Perth garment designer Justine McKnight and Perth photographer Michelle Taylor. Artist Helen Britton spoke with Habitusliving.com this week about her on-going interest in awkward beauty.

Architect Jon Clements took time out to speak with us this week about why their Henley Street design held such significance, in the sea-changing town of Barwon Heads, Victoria. 

There’s something exciting going on in Chippendale and it’s all about art. Belinda Aucott has the story.

Robin Boyd is one of Australia’s most admired architects. So, says Stephen Crafti, architects Lovell Chen found it quite a challenge converting a 1960s Boyd apartment to suit the needs of a modern extended family.

Andrew Patterson of Patterson’s Architects explains the relationship of Parihoa House to the land on which it is built

This month in Habitus issue 13 you’d be forgiven for thinking that Vietnamese artist, Pham Huy Thong’s ‘Dong Bao’ series is all baby talk. But the truth, as Amy Ng finds out, lies much deeper than the paintings let on.

Chu Lik Ren meets Malayasian landscape architect, Ng Sek San whose collective works straddle the hard and tactile world of architecture and the soft pliable world of landscape architecture.

Wendy Whiteley talks with Verity Magdalino about her home and garden in Lavender Bay, NSW

Print maker and sculptor Kristin Peren shares her work and her story in this month’s in Habitus magazine.

House Under Pohutukawa Trees is a warm and earthy beach house built for Gary and Sherry Butler in Piha North, New Zealand.
 

Durbach Block Architects designed the award winning House Holman in 2004.

Wallflower Architecture + Design merges passive water-cooling and timeless beauty to create a two-storey ‘water cooled’ house in Singapore 

Habitus editor, Paul McGillick, recently made
a special trip to Penang in Malaysia to see for himself how renowned architect,
Hijjas Kasturi transformed a block of heritage buildings into a classy
contemporary hotel.

Demand for glamour camping increases at Poronui Lodge New Zealand

Dan Knight and Jeremy Shipley open a brand new venue in Darlinghurst, NSW

Janice Seow explores the first completed private residence in Singapore to be rated Green Mark Platinum.

Black/white, solid/open, permanent/ temporary are just some of
the contrasts at play in this house on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand. Andrea Steven’s from Habitus issue 9 has the story.

Nobbs Radford Architects transforms a small existing cottage into a
generous, refined home by seamlessly integrating the old with the new.
 

Built on a footprint of a traditional Chinese village, this intimate resort on Koh Samui’s Lamai Beach offers a refreshing take on the art of living well. Janice Seow has this story.

Rebecca Baumann sets The Primavera ablaze with colour

Dinosaur designs create ‘pictorial’ resin for GoMA in Brisbane

Letting your guard down in the name of art

More than just Good Manors – gardens that
last

Edha Architects’ Leo House sees the clever integration of FengShui ideals with modern architecture. 
 
 

Louise Martin-Chew checks out a brooch exhibition in Brisbane that pairs together significant women in history and contemporary jewellers. 

Habitus Editor, Paul McGillick, takes a trip to the Pilbara and discovers the landscape and accommodation that encourages you to experience it. 

Jonathan Lake looks at a project by Iredale Pedersen Hook that responds to the unique landscape and climate of Perth.

Surrounding guests with beautiful pieces of great rarity, The White House is the interior designer’s retreat.  
 

 New Melbourne bar Little Red Pocket blurs traditional and modern tastes for downright clever results. Lisa Kappel finds out more.

 An ordinary house in the Adelaide Foothills has been given an extraordinary rebirth by Troppo Architects. Rachael Bernstone reports on how to extend affordably and imaginatively.
 

Melbourne’s South Wharf is located right on the Yarra River and a stone’s throw from the city centre and Southbank. Shopping, restaurants and the stadium are in walking distance, and you can enjoy it all from the Hilton Melbourne South …

Enjoy water and city views from Melbourne’s newest Hilton.
 

The northern sister hotel to the Sydney and Canberra Diamant
Hotels lands in Brisbane.

Award-winning Chinese/Australian artist Guan Wei tells Janice Seow about
his latest solo exhibition ‘Bird Island’, which is being held at Chan
Hampe Galleries in Singapore.

This design in Geelong’s Newtown undergoes a renovation, utilising its
corner position and some clever visual tricks to create a spacious
family home.

A new restaurant and retail store at Roberston Quay’s Martin No. 38, by Australian-based design firm Hecker Guthrie and Yenn Wong of Epicure.

A little something for those coffee lovers who like to travel in style with their favourite blend.

A new exhibition at Sydney’s Sullivan + Strumpf Fine Art Gallery
explores ‘vacant scenes of disquiet’ through stylised interior
paintings.

Baenziger Coles have helped to create a house with a sense of home, important for a site with many memories.

Janice Seow looks at how an unspoiled island destination in Cambodia is being built into a sustainable luxury resort.

Design Hotels launches the Made by Originals website, featuring over 30
‘Originals’ – hoteliers making travelling in design a pleasure.

It’s Italian for ‘vegetable garden’, and this little restaurant has been
carefully planted in a buzzing new location on Surry Hills’ Waterloo
St.

This 5-year-long warehouse conversion in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley has
been a careful, challenging process, with a rich, respectful result.

Adelaide accommodation gets a touch of London’s Soho with this hotel in the city’s East End.

Designed by Aamer Architects, this award-winning tropical house in
Singapore offers a bold arrangement of space that takes advantage of a
commanding city view. Janice Seow has this story.

Limitation breeds inspiration in the 4th instalment of 12×12 at Sydney’s aMBUSH Gallery.

For those with an artistic streak, here’s an Asian escape that’s bound to pique your interest.

Travel isn’t all about luxury hotels and amazing beaches, so we thought
we’d introduce you to one of our favourite travel accessories.

If you’ve ever wanted to see inside some of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings, July will give you the chance.

The latest exhibition at Sydney’s metalab gallery explores the power of nature through several jewellery designs.

A chance encounter turns into an amazing opportunity to create this ‘armoured’ home with a warm, tactile heart.

Collette Swindells has a bite to eat at Melbourne’s hottest new restaurant, Union Dining.

In a street where Italian food reigns supreme, a quintessentially Greek
fish & chippery breaks with tradition. Alice Blackwood gets a fish-eye-view.

As far as complicated sites go, they don’t get much tougher than a
cliff top, but the challenges of site created nothing but opportunities
for this home.

Habitus Deputy Editor, Nicky Lobo, wishes ‘infinity’ pool meant you can stay forever.

A home dictated by a conservative streetscape, challenging site and an organic, prominent landscape feature.

Who needs a beach with a spa escape like this in the Victorian bush.

Introducing the recreation of a classic cognac originally made for Russian royalty.

Benja Harney will exhibit his intricate paper works during Sydney Design 2011 at Sydney’s Object Gallery.

The Gallery of Australian design opens a new survey into Australian
chair design featuring some of the country’s most prominent designers
and creatives.

A Melbourne pop-up shop gets inspired by the modernist spirit with Danish furniture from the 50s and 60s.

Don’t be fooled by the outward appearances of this hotel in Shanghai’s South Bund, there’s more than meets the eye.

A bold addition to a heritage-listed home in Melbourne creates an harmonious co-existence of two distinct styles.

Jenna Reed Burns explores the renovation of a Queenslander that respects the architecture of the style.

In a first for Brisbane audiences, the James Street fashion and
lifestyle shopping precinct in Fortitude Valley is becoming an art
gallery until 9 June. Louise Martin Chew gets out and about.

Get ready for another huge year for design at the renowned State of Design Festival from 20 – 31 July.

This home by Lahznimmo architects in Sydney’s Haberfield is a home reborn, and a home built specifically for way of life of its inhabitants.

Enjoy the beautiful results of Cinnamon Lee’s digital design processes
in combination with her knowledge of LED technology in a new exhibition
at Sydney’s Metalab.

Thailand’s newest Design Hotel is Casa de La Flora in Khoa Lak.

A beautiful civic project from fuseproject to promote organic cacao production in Costa Rica.

A statement of simple form that confidently delivers what any home should; exactly what its owners need and want.

The Lost & Found Hotel Room offers the kind of holistic Melbourne
experience that leaves you feeling like a true Melbourne cultural-ite.
Alice Blackwood stops by for a visit.

Designed by Andrew Simpson Architects, this home twists in all its geometric wonder towards the natural landscape.

Luxury and green design don’t get much better than this resort on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula.

The new Love Lace exhibition at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum plays with our perception
of lace work with new mediums and objects from left field.

A new cellar door and bistro on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is a picture of contemporary design.

Escape the impending winter blues (if you live somewhere that’s cooling down) with a visit to Bali’s Seminyak and The Elysian.

From the web, to a book to a new exhibition: a photo blog by a Sydney photographer goes from strength to strength.

This new farmhouse by Patterson Associates stands sentinel on Auckland’s West Coast. Andrea Stevens visits this magical site.

Melbourne’s Sensory Lab has been serving up a stellar cup in David Jones
since launching in 2009. Read on to find out how you can win a 1-year
Coffee Subscription.

Get the full Fiji fix – firewalking, fruit cocktails and frangipanis – in one resort complex. Habitus magazine Deputy Editor, Nicky Lobo, reports back on her recent visit to Fiji.

This home in Melbourne’s Kew takes its ‘cue’ from an unlikely place.

Anna Flanders takes a seat in the long-awaited Pemberton dining room of WA foodie Sophie Zalokar

An iconic Sydney location, a serendipitous discovery and a whole lot of luck came together to produce this amazing rooftop home.

A beachside retreat with a difference; The Prince is just a short tram
ride to Australia’s design and fashion capital, Melbourne.

Another in the always-breathtaking Alila group of hotel, Alila Cha-Am is a serence escape.

This home in Anglesea by Seeley Architects melds with its site thanks to materials and scale.

A fun new exhibition at Workshopped will give you the opportunity to have your own items ‘Spunked’ by Dr Spunk.

This year’s Biennale is set to be the biggest yet, so jump in your car
and head to Ballarat – why not take your camera along on the road trip!

This home in Melbourne’s Prahran was built to house the art of a gallery
director, but for the owners it, in itself, was a work of art worth
savouring.

The latest offering from 8Hotels is in one of the world’s most sought-after locations, Seminyak.

A new iPhone application brings art hunting to your finger tips, helping you find art galleries and artists across Australia.

From the Salamanca Docks of Tasmania, to the shopfronts of Kew,
Melbourne, Mim Design has seamlessly translated Tassal Salmon’s
shorefront salmon operations into an experiential environment for the
customer.

Ola Bednarczuk takes a look around Perth’s latest design hunter location

This light, airy and spacious home is an old government-built flat that has been redesigned by architect and owner Desmond Ong.

Get ready for another big, bright and musical winter in Sydney in 2011.

Another exhibition from SGAR examines the shift away from the mass-produced to one-off, limited edition designs.

Are you planning a stay in Singapore? Why not enter our ‘Wanderlust – Stay in Design’ competition.

We talk to the designers behind Melbourne’s hottest new noodle bar.

Another in the Art Month Sydney line-up, one of our favourite contemporary Australian artists.

Melissa Rimac goes back in time in style (and art) with the Henry Jones Art Hotel in hobart.

This beautiful home in Melbourne’s Middle Park brings a little bit of childhood fantasy to a very grown-up house.

Tasmania’s East coast is home to one Australia’s most exciting new
holiday retreats designed by Marris Nunn and Associates and Chada
Siembieda.

Find out what makes Tribe Studio Architects tick as we explore Hannah Tribe’s approach to design.

New works by award-winning Australian artist, Derryn Tal, will be on show in her latest exhibition in Sydney’s Danks St.

As one of the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival’s most anticipated
events, Penthouse Mouse takes the high-end fashion world in its stride.
Alice Blackwood visits the 2011 instalment of this pop-up retail/art
space.

The First Show at Melbourne’s new Pin-Up gallery asks the public to engage with architecture and design, bringing it out of the professional realm. Ben Morgan spoke to Martyn Hook before the opening.

Step with us into this home which “disappears” into its surroundings.

Metalab brings in some good luck with the work of Natalia Milosz-Piekarska and Karla Way.

The latest edition of the Design Hotels Book is out now, in a new 2-volume format.
 

Sydney’s Ray Hughes Gallery will be hosting the famous ABSOLUT ART COLLECTION with a unique night gallery setting.
 

Habitusliving.com Editor, Ben Morgan, explores this home of concrete and curves in an expression of folding roof forms and a response to site and climate.

We take a look at a funky new hotel in India’s Chennai where a
collaboration between Indian creatives has yielded a Design Hunter gem.

Collette Swindells visits Tasmania’s latest culinary offering from Luke Burgess.

Drew Heath’s Bondi House is featured in Issue 11 of Habitus magazine – out March 15. Here, Jane Burton Taylor revisits another of Heath’s homes built for privacy and seclusion to see what’s changed.

Louise Martin-Chew finds her way with an exhibition at Brisbane SGAR gallery.

Nicky Lobo visits the new flagship store in Paddington in the lead up to the Habitus Conversation in Sydney.

Put your hats on and break out the parasols, we’re eating al fresco this March.

Creating a functional family home in Sydney’s Paddington, MCK Architects
also had the opportunity to re-imagine what ‘heritage’ means in today’s
world.

Bali’s latest luxury playground on trendy Seminyak beach promises to ‘wow’ the senses. Janice Seow finds out why.

This home in Gladesville retains a traditional streetscape while
delivering a light, open and inviting rear extension. Jane Burton Taylor
drops by for a visit.

Stephanie Madison explores the touring Primavera exhibition now on show in Brisbane.

The botany of Walter Hill will be explored in a new exhibition at Brisbane’s Myrtle Street Studio.

This new collection of products, by French designers Andrée and Olivia Putman, plays on the ritual of drinking coffee to bring meaning to objects that surround it.

A once-in-a-lifetime Design Hunter opportunity from Great Dane and 50 Degrees North.

Home – Real and Ideal. A new exhibition, conceptualised by Piero Chiefa, opens at the Boutwell Draper Gallery in Sydney.

An urban oasis in Sydney’s Newtown plays with space to create an evolving story.

Unwind in supreme luxury with this beautiful Indian offering from Alila Hotels & Resorts.

A new collection of miniature works from silversmith and goldsmith
Dougal Halsem will be on show at the new Pieces of Eight CBD Gallery in
Melbourne with his first exhibition – The Turtle and the Merman.

It’s as though this beautiful home by BKK Architects has “washed ashore” and “embedded” itself in the terrain.

Jane Burton-Taylor visits the home of Ashely Dunn and Lee Hillam in Botany.

Rustic and authentic Italian fare finds a new home in Canberra.

The Object Gallery once again gives Sydneysiders a look beyond the
curtain of its creative community with this exhibition by &Company.

Inarc Architects create a home that celebrates natural materials, family and environment.

Bubbles and a bit of fun with this great packaging design from Veuve Clicquot.

Rachel Bourne and Shane Blue’s own holiday home was the inspiration behind this New South Wales house, Jane Burton-Taylor goes outside inside.

Forget hobbits and hills. New Zealand’s hip new boutique hotel is a destination for the style savvy traveller.

With neighbours on all sides, this award-winning house in Singapore
looks inwards to conceal, open up, and draw in natural light and breeze.

Art Month Sydney is back again in 2011, bringing Sydney’s Art out of the
shadows and inviting the art-inspired to join in the fun.

A retrospective time machine, clad with nostalgic design classics of the
20th century, sits on Seminyak, Bali’s prime beachfront.

A kaleidoscopic staircase, a tapestry of colour and a tight budget are
at the heart of this house by FMD Architects in North Melbourne.

A new Vietnamese-influenced restaurant adds colour and life to Auckland’s port precinct. Andrea Stevens drops in for a bite to eat.

As the industrial city bustles below, Amankora floats unscathed in the
lofty Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Monique Friedlander gets spiritual.

Featured in Habitus 18, the Green House is a monolithic copper-clad cube in the west of Singapore Island that engages with its lush surroundings and is a frame for both garden and art.

Siobhan O’Brien clambers down rocks in Indonesia to discover Ayan Resort’s Rock Bar.

Tasmania explores ‘Island Culture’, welcoming artists from across the globe to their international arts event in 2011.

The Racha is every city-dweller’s dream holiday location. With it’s
sublime coastal views and modern architecture, you’ll wish you could
holiday forever.

A contemporary concept for an historic Sydney hotel brings a new design dimension for discerning guests. Nicky Lobo visits 10 Rooms.

This beach house in Victoria’s Anglesea returns to the roots of the beach shack.

Golf and an African Safari in Thailand, why not!

Get along to the Terrace Outdoor Living Pop-up shop in Sydney’s Woollahra for everything you need to enjoy summer.

Habitusliving.com Editor Ben Morgan gets into the Christmas spirit with the Surry Hills Christmas window display competition.

A magical escape that brings a 300-year-old mansion to life in India’s Jodhpur.

Newtown’s Bloodwood restaurant, a sustainable approach to dining in Sydney.

Serenity now: An old house is given new tranquillity, thanks to the careful approach of architect James Jones. Rachael Bernstone goes south.

Introducing a new boutique hotel by 8Hotels in Sydney.

This piece of Auckland’s history comes to life with a sensitive restoration of the hotel landmark.

This is the story of two IT guys who, after seven years of working the
same jobs day-in day-out, decided to do something totally unexpected.
Alice Blackwood get into gear with a good coffee.

Lasting impression: a new home for a couple that met and married later in life blends beautifully with its surroundings, despite its tough exterior.

The name says it all, this hotel in Little India is about escaping to
somewhere far away, but be careful, it could take you a week just to
explore the 4 storeys and 29 rooms.

Who would have thought that ‘pinching’ a house in the middle would make
it feel bigger? Colour, light and creative cabinetry reactivate this Sydney
terrace.

Peroni brings a temporary taste of Italy to Sydney’s Darlinghurst.

Lee Suckling discovers a superior New Zealand wine on its way to US domination.

A Laos sojourn anyone? We take a look at one of the Laotian offerings from Alila resorts.

A new exhibition of drawings by Catherine O’Donnell explores after-hours suburbia at The Boutwell Draper Gallery in Sydney’s Redfern.

A home that engages vertically with the outdoors – a backyard on its roof.

A new exhibition at the Sydney Euroluce Light Studio celebrating 50 years of Italian seating opened last week.

Nicky Lobo takes the mystery out of Sydney’s newest bar

Ingrid Fuary-Wagner goes through the looking glass with the latest instalment of the Art Series Hotels.



Emerging Australian design gets shopping with the latest addition to Sydney’s Hill Street Design Precinct.

So you think you’re a chef? Well apparently so does your kitchen mixer. Habitusliving.com’s resident culinary creative, Frankie Unsworth, gets cooking.

This holiday retreat by Fearon Hay Architects demonstrates the fundamental relationship between architecture and landscape for which New Zealand is renowned.

Art Sydney returns in 2010 with over 80 galleries and the work of over 800 artists on display.

Another chapter in this Patonga house for you to enjoy.

The architects upstairs: a shared renovation, a lesson in getting on with your neighbours and two beautiful contemporary homes.

Alexander Lotersztain builds Haus at Unlimited: Designing for the Asia Pacific.


Join passionate and influential advocates of food and design at the inaugural Unlimited Asia Pacific event in Brisbane.



Gewürzhaus spices things up on Lygon St, Melbourne. Collette Swindells gets a taste.

The Finders Keepers markets take over Gaffa’s The Arcade Project.

Jared Ingersoll gives us something to quack about with the opening of his latest eco-minded eatery in Surry Hills.

A model of sustainability, this home in Sydney’s Mona Vale demonstrates the fusion of design and sustainable thinking.

The story of something that’s more than just a water bottle.

There’s a storm a-brewin’ in Sydney’s restaurant scene, with culinary kicks from the city’s creative kids.

We introduce you to another of the X2 (Cross To) Resorts in Thailand.

Check out this amazing hotel in the heart of Indonesia’s capital – an urban oasis.

Luigi Rosselli creates an historically and environmentally respectful home in Sydney’s Little Bay.

So long cellophane-suffocated sandwiches, Sydney’s picnics are finally
getting the handmade treatment they deserve. Frankie Unsworth dusts off
the picnic rug.

High spirits for the 2010 festive season with ABSOLUT VODKA’s limited edition GLIMMER.

Interior Designer, Michael Bechara transforms this Surry Hills terrace (once a corner store) with a sensitive restoration and modernisation. Ben Morgan talks detail with Michael.

The Diamant Hotel Canberra redefines hotel apartment living with a nod to renowned designers. Introducing exclusive designer Loft Apartments from Diamant Hotel.

The Orion suitcase designed by Gabriele Pezzini for Hermčs – travel in design

Stephanie Madison stops by for a bite at one of Brisbane’s newest restaurants with restaurateur Simon Hill at the helm and design by Donovan Hill Architects.

The second in the Art Series hotels, The Olsen once again
pays tribute to one of Australia’s greatest living artists – John Olsen.

Modern Classical: Aamer Taher-designed Dalvey
Estate bungalow is a modern rendition of vernacular architecture but also one
that engages the mind to reflect on its sculptural art form. Madhavi Tumkur visits this home in Singapore. 

A new
exhibition on at Queensland’s University of Technology (QUT) Art Museum is a
showcase of Japanese pop culture, known as j-pop, traditions and design playing
muse to today’s artists.

“We’ve done the hunting, you do the collecting.” Anthony Caggiano
gets ready for another Bowerbird Bazaar.

Object will be leaving the gallery and venturing into
Sydney’s most creative art and design studios in spring.

Introducing the 2010 Design Hotels book. Would you like one,
read on to find out how you could win 1 of 3 free copies.

This home by Singapore-based architects
Formwerkz facilitates the urban garden and maintains a connection to place.

Nobbs Radford Architects transforms a small existing cottage into a generous, refined home by seamlessly integrating the old with the new. 

As part of the Art Series Hotel group, The Cullen was an
eye-opener to one of Australia’s greatest living artists. Online Editor Ben
Morgan gets an overnight stay.

Plus Architecture have set
a precedent with their multi-residential development in South Yarra that
focuses on community.

We take a look at the award-winning “urban ruin” of The Royal Saxon in Melbourne’s Richmond.

Is relaxing with a book your idea of a good holiday – then you’ll love having a whole library to enjoy.

A special hotel room nestled in Melbourne’s CBD reveals the wonders of the city’s creative culture. Alice Blackwood stays over.

Collette Swindells gives us the low-down on the Melbourne Art Fair – running from 4-8 August 2010.

Paradise doesn’t come cheap, but there’s no point skimping on the holiday of a lifetime.

Stephanie Madison explores architect Shawn Godwin’s award-winning Brisbane home.

For architects Owen and Vokes it was a respect for the original 1990s
beach house and the intricacies of the house site which drove the design
of this Sunshine Coast home.

Darren Westell explores this home by Architect Guy Morgan in the rice fields of Bali.

Eight Hotels Australia offers an irresistible winter escape.

Oriental Opulence – Lee Suckling looks at the inspiration behind the
Bangalore Polo Club, a slice of colonial history in New Zealand’s South
Island. 

Bark is more than a name for the architects of this Sunshine Coast
house.

An international sensation has brought one of Melbourne’s smallest cafes
alive with flair and flavour. Collette Swindells gets sweet on a
certain pastry chef.

Thailand’s X2 Koh Samui – luxuriate in design and ‘cross to’ another world.

Book your seat to hear and taste the latest instalment of Edible Tales. Ben Morgan lets you in on the story.

This new boutique hotel proves that history need not be boring. Lynn Tan explores Singapore’s Chinese heritage.

A challenging site and heritage listing weren’t enough to deter the
owners of this Melbourne home.

A beachside eatery by design-savvy British expats is born in Bali. Francesca Unsworth hunts down some playful fare. 

Tobias Partners bring a 1960s Sydney brick home into the 21st Century
while carefully retaining the original design aesthetic.

Beyond architecture, photographer Simon Devitt displays a unique ability to capture ‘sense of place’. We speak to him about his latest exhibition.

Last week saw the opening of Singapore’s latest hotspot.

More than a resort, Desa Seni is a ‘village resort’ where the locals are
much more than just decoration.

Now available in Australia, Italian Architect Ferruccio Laviani’s bottle
for Hennessy is another way to drink in design.

A private fitness-focused home on Singapore’s Sentosa Island

A home by Malaysian design firm Building Bloc exploring the urban milieu.

Sydney street artists come together for disadvantaged youth in Western
Sydney.

The ultimate place to stay – among art, vineyards and beautiful
architecture. Penelope Barker explores the new MONA Pavilions.

How can a public space re-shape the consciousness of a community?
Desmond Freeman of Design Worldwide Partnership (dwp) in Sydney tells Nicky
Lobo about the experience.

Another design-driven hotel from Singapore city with a little bit of
personality.

Japanese brewer brings cutting edge design, art, fashion and photography
to Sydney and Melbourne. Nicky Lobo gets shirty with Asahi Silver + Black.

Jane Burton Taylor explores a home designed as both a memorial to the
past and a gathering place for the future.

A boutique hotel in Australia’s capital has an artistic twist.