This stunning Modern Melbourne abode was built in 2019 by international architecture firm Layan Architecture. The 2,400 sq. ft home is located in the middle of Australia, and there’s much more to this surprising house than meets the eye.
The first secret of this ‘light house’ lies in its exterior facade— from the street, it looks like a Victorian worker’s cottage! Because of local city and historical regulations, the existing facade had to remain, so the house we see above is actually an ‘addition’ to the cottage.
The living spaces of the home are flanked around a large, open courtyard and the lower floor contains full -height sliding doors to create a dynamic cross-breeze throughout the space.
But the showstopper of the home is found on the second floor. The exterior walls of the upper level are surrounded by a custom polycarbonate screen, which does a number of things. First, it provides privacy (an important feature in glass-walled homes!) as it can be adjusted to block nearby sight lines.
Its customizability also means the screen can be adjusted to let more or less light in, depending on the temperature and season. The screen also creates a beautiful pattern of filtered light, creating dynamic shadows on upstairs walls.
And perhaps the screen’s most innovative feature is its ability to light up the interior it surrounds. Thanks to small bulbs placed within the individual elements of the screen, it’s able to provide light to the inner rooms during the night.
The Australian home has so much focus on lighting as its owner is a director at a nearby lighting studio: “The client… worked meticulously in selecting and designing the lighting system and fittings,” said the architects.
The textures of the home aren’t something to be ignored either— the architects used American oak, white glazed brick and travertine tiles. “The design [of the home] is both current and timeless at the same time,” said the architects.
Read more about the ‘light house’ at Architect Magazine. Want to know more about light filtering? Check out this article on breeze blocks! And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Mid Century Modern inspiration!
A Quick Update
As Australia rebuilds from the bushfires ravaging through New South Wales, Victoria, and Cambridge, we at Atomic Ranch would like to lend our platform to those affected. As a token of our support, we offer a few charities that are accepting donations on behalf of the Australian people. We hope you get the chance to donate during this trying time.
Charities:
-Donate directly to the firefighters battling the blaze in New South Wales and Victoria on their respective websites.
-Offer your support to a wildlife-based cause, with WIRES, Australia’s largest wildlife organization that funds the care and rescue of animals affected by the bushfires.
-If you have spare furniture or other household items that might benefit those afflicted, donate to GIVIT, a nonprofit that distributes donations to those in need.
-Aid the rebuilding process by donating to the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal. This nonprofit distributes grants to mend community infrastructure, as well as provide psychological support to people affected by the blaze.
-If you happen to live in Australia and have the ability to host families, you can always offer your home in the case of an emergency on the County Fire Authority website.
(For an extended list of reputable donation sources, please read this piece from USAToday)
