An Attuned Attentiveness – Garden House by Placement Studio and Nest

Transferring a connected intimacy between architecture and landscape, Garden House sits deftly nestled into its natural surrounds. Placement Studio and Nest combine to conjure a home of expanding and contracting capabilities, founded on contrasts and an attuned attention to the subtleties of the everyday.

Deeply connected to life along the coast, the owners of Garden House wanted to retain a proximity while downsizing, enabling them to live more connected to family and friends. As an ageing in-place exercise, the footprint and site size were reduced, creating a more sustainable living model; this integrated and strategic planning allows for areas to open and close as needed to accommodate visitors. A connection to the surrounding natural setting was key, as Placement Studio and Nest combine efforts to fold in gestures of calm, together with a muted series of subtleties, that create a restful and engaging family home.

While the brick and rectilinear elements provide a rigidity, the engagement with the natural, open and generous use of glazing reflects a dynamic essence of flow.

Garden House is located in Inverloch and ensures sightlines out from each opening, positively connecting to natural elements. Built by Kane Worthy, together with AKAS Landscape Architecture, the elemental brick of the home extends outwards from the encasing edges to frame views beyond, similarly aiding in sun shading and shadow control. The depth of these reveals further articulates the boundary and allows differing plant species combinations within each. While the brick and rectilinear elements provide a rigidity, the engagement with the natural, open and generous use of glazing reflects a dynamic essence of flow.

Bathed in warmth, timber adds a textured and patina element amongst the strength of the brickwork, painted a warm neutral base. As the sun moves across and through the volumes on site, the interiors are enlivened, where integrated window seats allow a drinking in of the sun. Joinery provides storage and opportunity for displays while also gently separating spaces notionally, bringing further warmth and timber internally. A soft green douses the bathroom and, together with soft curves, becomes a hidden highlight. Similarly, lightness and a casual openness are carried throughout, proposing an adaptable home for when the clients’ three children visit, while also providing an option to partake in Airbnb if needed.

As the sun moves across and through the volumes on site, the interiors are enlivened, where integrated window seats allow a drinking in of the sun.

Garden House ensures the natural and the built environments are brought together with a considered grace. Placement Studio and Nest have carved a home of intentional repose, perfectly aligned with its coastal setting and for the owners’ next chapter.