Textural Immersion – Chisholm House by Editor Interior and Architectsmith

Chisholm House sees the creation of a family home that intimately reacts to the encompassing landscape, allowing continual connections outward. Editor Interior and Architectsmith follow a brief that optimises the established surrounds and takes advantage of the residence’s elevated positioning.

Tucked into the dense vegetation, Chisholm House replaces an existing home to become a more optimised and connected series of spaces. On a battle-axe style allotment, a long access driveway leads up to the clearing for the new home, where a heightening of the form takes full advantage of the views out toward Avalon Beach. Whilst the original residence was initially considered as a renovation opportunity, the decision to demolish and rebuild was made upon the basis of creating a structure more in line with the terrain. As architect and interior designer, Architectsmith and Editor Interior combine to craft a home that possesses a highly refined resolve.

Tucked into the dense vegetation, Chisholm House replaces an existing home to become a more optimised and connected series of spaces.

Openings act as framed portals beyond the initial form, allowing the landscape to perform as an animated backdrop to the interior. Despite the challenging terrain, the linear form and planning navigates the functions of the home to best engage with the natural elements. Spread over multiple stories, the upper level positions the main bedroom suite and living areas among the tree canopies, optimising views and immersing occupants among the natural surrounds. Nestled underneath sits the home office, bedrooms for children and an additional family area. The separation between the levels ensures a hierarchy of function and grouping of passivity, while there is an overlaying an openness and access to the landscape within.

The use of exposed brick and block work adds texture to the home and expresses the structural elements that support the framing and volumes. Together with the use of Australian hardwood timber, a natural focus is carried through the floors, walls, ceilings, doors and select joinery. Capped in a zinc sheeting, the butterfly-form roof enables multiple access points for natural light to enter and fill the home. An interior palette of muted greens and natural tones match the surrounds, carrying a sense of calm into the home.

An interior palette of muted greens and natural tones match the surrounds, carrying a sense of calm into the home.

The use of varying textures and an active engagement with light throughout ensures the experience of Chisholm House is distinct and warm. Editor Interior and Architectsmith create a home that celebrates the natural surroundings and is a personal extension of the companies’ attitudes to the natural environment.