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A Cool and Citified Courtyard Residence

Harcourt Street is a private residence in the garden of an existing Victorian home in Melbourne.

Australian architect  Steve Domoney Architecture has created a roomy escape that wraps open glazed walls around a courtyard.

It was important to the owners to not remove any of the old growth trees, which led to the courtyard design.

The significant specimen trees now leave their signature dappled shade on a newly emerged residence.

The owners had subdivided their parcel of land, using the funds from the sale of the Victorian on the property to build on the other half.

With the glazed spaces weaving around trees both outside and within a central garden court, the mood is tranquil and cool.

The quiet and reflective spaces are punctuated by the grandeur of the existing tree canopies.

A pervasive zen sensibility of cool serenity is created amidst the turmoil of the hot Australian city.

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Australian House with a Latticed Roof Cutout over a Pool

Echoing the deep black shadows of its lush tropical garden setting, this black and white pavilion home with a latticed central skylight makes a dazzling sight in rural Australia.

Designed for sustainable contemporary living in tropical latitudes, only the essentials – like a library of books – are protected from the moist climate in conditioned space.

Australia’s Charles Wright Architects say the iconic Philip Johnson 1949 Glass House was the inspiration for the Glass House – without the glass, for most part.

Open to the sky, the pool becomes a rain curtain during tropical downpours.

Kitchen utensils and food storage are all located in this one central island.

Only essential space – like the family room with the TV – is enclosed, because the humid climate would erode its functioning outdoors.

But the central cooking/eating/swimming space is open air.

Bedrooms and bathrooms behind the wall down one side of the pool are also enclosed.

The delicious swimming pool reflects a cool blue light, by day through its latticed roof opening, and by night, reflecting lighting off the white ceiling.

All of its electricity is supplied by solar panels on the roof and all of its water is supplied by a 45,000 litre rainwater harvesting tank.

The gorgeous house is the recipient of a Carbon Neutral National Commendation for Sustainable Architecture from the AIA Awards.

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A Happy Holidays Beach House for a Young Family

This holiday home at St Helena’s Bay in South Africa is the very picture of relaxation.

But actually the site presented a challenge: view to the front, but sun from the back.

Because of the prevailing winds, architectural firm SAOTA placed the pool on the sheltered side.

You enter the casual family vacation home on the second floor beside the pool.

The generous al fresco kitchen alongside the pool is roofed in traditional South African thatching that extends in an L shape to the living room.

Stairs next to the ample kitchen – love the way black disappears the business end! – lead down to the bedrooms below.

Downstairs there is another cosy family hangout for rainy days.

Then leading off the downstairs are everyone’s bedrooms, all with views of the enticing ocean.

A friendly holiday home for a young family to be shared by an extended circle of friends.