Owner’s dream

The owners of this new build wanted to construct a modern house on a minimal budget to raise their young family in. The home needed to be unassuming, secure and private from the street. Natural light and air had to flow throughout the open-plan house, allowing for a minimalistic style in the spacious living areas. A large backyard needed to contain a tropical garden, modern pool and covered outdoor entertaining space.

The site

The empty lot was small, flat and located in a quiet suburb surrounded by other Queenslanders. The back of the house opened up to the north, but neighbouring houses were pressed up close against the boundary fencing.  

Our design solution

PlaceMate architects designed a two-storey home inspired by neighbouring Queenslanders. The centre of the house flows around a grassy courtyard and open stairs, bringing light, air and lush greenery to all spaces. The master bedroom balcony overlooks the backyard and large double-height alfresco.

Doors and windows are carefully positioned to screen out the neighbours and frame distant city glimpses, creating an illusion of endless space. A limited neutral palette of materials and textures creates a classic, soothing feel, while plenty of built-in storage allows the rooms to appear effortlessly organised.

Standard home building procedures were used to ensure the most cost-effective method of construction. The project came in on time, and on budget.