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Issue 62 - Living in the Environment Issue

Issue 62

Living in the Environment Issue

Issue 62 is the first issue of the year and always a great time to put our best foot forward. With Adam Goodrum, the loveliest man in design, as Guest Editor, we draw on his insights as a furniture designer, artist and educator to look at the makers shaping our design world. Sustainability has never been more important, and increasingly this is a consideration from the start with projects designed to address their immediate environment as well as the longevity of the planet. From the coldest winters to the most tropical of summers, addressing how we live in the environment is crucial to creating the perfect home.

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Rooted in heritage
HomesHabitusliving Editor

Rooted in heritage

Australia

Architecture

Ola Architecture Studio

Photography

Jack Lovel

Oak by Ola Architecture Studio navigates the intersection of heritage and modernity through a series of measured interventions.


Oak, conceived by Ola Architecture Studio, is an exercise in the reworking of a heritage brick dwelling in Hawthorn, balancing preservation with contemporary intervention. Eschewing overt structural alterations, Oak pertains to a restrained approach and budget — exemplifying how minimal modifications can recalibrate a space, overlaying a contemporary aesthetic while safeguarding its historical integrity.

In this approach, rather than undertaking extensive modifications, Ola Architecture Studio prioritised subtle interventions to improve usability, comfort and connection to the surrounding environment. Internally, Oak maintains the inherent proportions and curated palette while introducing features that enrich rather than overwrite – restrained colours and textures work in concert with the original detailing. A marble island bench characterised by metallic and monochromatic veins contrasts the original cornices. Meanwhile, bespoke joinery – namely, integrated window seats in the bedroom and recessed-panel cabinets in the walk-in-robe – improves functionality and usability. These interventions serve to amplify natural light and carve out moments of intimacy, subtly recalibrating the spatial arrangement to accommodate modern patterns of use.

Suggested: This timber-rich ’70s home has been restored with even more handcrafted charm

An extension to the master bedroom suite has been introduced. Moving to the façade, the front and rear of the house sit pencil-sharp against one another. The addition has been lacquered in aluminium battens, juxtaposing the solid-brick construction without overwhelming the original architecture. Its metallic presence, fluctuating with the light, imbues the structure with an ephemeral quality that allows it to recede into the garden.

Next up: CHANDON Homestead is aged to perfection


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Habitusliving Editor

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budgetHerringboneHome ArchitectureHouse ArchitectureInterior Designoakoak flooringOla Architecture Studiorecessed-panel cabinetsrestoration


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Issue 62 - Living in the Environment Issue

Issue 62

Living in the Environment Issue

Issue 62 is the first issue of the year and always a great time to put our best foot forward. With Adam Goodrum, the loveliest man in design, as Guest Editor, we draw on his insights as a furniture designer, artist and educator to look at the makers shaping our design world. Sustainability has never been more important, and increasingly this is a consideration from the start with projects designed to address their immediate environment as well as the longevity of the planet. From the coldest winters to the most tropical of summers, addressing how we live in the environment is crucial to creating the perfect home.

Order Issue