LIGHTLY WEIGHTED

At this home, ideas of retreat sculpted a concealed refuge at which the footprint has been kept small but the quality high to show how smaller spaces can feel as generous as larger ones. A protective shell of fluted concrete formwork anchors the dwelling to the site while ensuring privacy and suggesting permanence. Exposed concrete in the interior works as a thermal moderator, black floors and ceilings compress and absorb light, timber wall linings provide warmth and consistency with the vertical elements, and a highlight in the kitchen is the stone bench designed as a piece of furniture and raised on a plinth. Clever manipulation of the building’s form allows it to engage with natural light throughout the day, and a long ‘slot’ was inserted at the apex of the roof, which along with the ceiling space flaring out, encourages light to be directed deeper into the living spaces. Burrowing the lower of the home’s two levels into the sloping site allows a reduced presence and makes the bedrooms restful and secluded.

Lightly Weighted reconsiders an inner-urban home, demonstrating the idea that living among others need not mean compromising on feeling reclusive and calm.