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Issue 59 - The Life Outside Issue

Issue 59

The Life Outside Issue

Introducing the Life Outside issue of Habitus magazine. With life increasingly being absorbed into a digital space, there is never a more important moment to hold something tangible. In this context, the power of nature to have a physiological impact on our sense of wellbeing has never been more important. So how can we cultivate the benefits of the our natural environment in the most intimate of places – our homes? This was the question that helped to bring this issue of Habitus to life.

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Whiting Architects Connect Six Individuals Through Design
HomesAmy Ng

Whiting Architects Connect Six Individuals Through Design

Australia

Connect Six in Brighton, Victoria is a house by Whiting Architects that fosters relationships through different layers and heights of design.


As a child, most of us played the game of connect four where we had to carve out connections between coloured plastic discs noughts and crosses style. Connect Six by Whiting Architects follows a similar approach by designing the family home around connectivity and consolidation.

“The house was large enough, it just needed to be better utilised”, says Steven Whiting, director of Whiting Architects. As a practice, Whiting Architects ensures that there is no distinction between the interior and architecture, offering a holistic approach that transformed the Edwardian Villa into a more generous and connected house.

Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath corridor stairs connection
Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath stairs

With a large footprint, it seemed as though there was no connectivity between the front and back of the house. As that was the case, the design team reconfigured the existing structure, which not only minimised the impact between the old and new inserts but also allows the new additions to coexist alongside the old building without competing against each other.

“The design intended to balance separation and connectivity alongside privacy and engagement,” says Steven, referencing the original house as inspiration. Although the new additions are monothematic, they sit in contrast to the traditional terracotta tiled roof and red brick exterior of the old structure.

Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath dining details
Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath living details

As the architects focused on the family’s needs through the curation of each space, they used various floor levels to demarcate spaces but still link them together. This is specifically seen through the design of the kitchen bench, one that long and situated at the heart of the home so that the family can congregate around it. It is located between the primary cooking area and the main dining and living space. On the living side, it works as a standard height table. But on the kitchen side as the floor plate levels down, it acts as a higher preparation table and bench.

To match this, the kitchen area also has a lower ceiling, which boasts intimacy before opening up to a double ceiling height in the living space.

Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath natural light
Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath openng stairs

Throughout the house, Whiting Architects had hoped to inspire a process of discovery, “glimpsing interesting elements and obtaining views through unexpected spaces as well as encourage curiosity and desire to explore,” says Simon.

Family connection is at the very centre of design for Connect Six, as it is a result of integrating contemporary design with Australian Heritage to meet the needs of a large but close family.

Whiting Architects
whitingarchitects.com

Photography by Shannon McGrath

Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath bedroom
Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath main bathroom
Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath girl bedroom
Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath bedroom
Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath outdoor courtyard deck
Connect Six Whiting Architects CC Shannon McGrath exterior

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About the Author

Amy Ng

Tags

Edwardianfamily homeInterior DesignMelbourne ArchitectureOpen-PlanResidential ArchitectureShannon McGrathSteven WhitingThida Sachathepvictoria


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Issue 59 - The Life Outside Issue

Issue 59

The Life Outside Issue

Introducing the Life Outside issue of Habitus magazine. With life increasingly being absorbed into a digital space, there is never a more important moment to hold something tangible. In this context, the power of nature to have a physiological impact on our sense of wellbeing has never been more important. So how can we cultivate the benefits of the our natural environment in the most intimate of places – our homes? This was the question that helped to bring this issue of Habitus to life.

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