Disconnected Calm – Introspection by Smac Studio
As its own private sanctuary, Introspection embraces the idea of home as a place of escape and disconnection from the surrounds, encouraging rest and relaxation within. Smac Studio balances the bustle of the home’s context by overlaying muted and soft tones throughout, punctuated with moments of curated activation and curiosity.
With the increasing density of cities and the infill of residences all woven in amongst each other, proximity to the action can come at the price of a hectic pace of life, noise and an overall lack of calm. Located in Bondi – close to both the city and the beach – Introspection is reworked to create an experience internally that acts to counter the surrounding bustle. Though nearby to all the amenity the locale has to offer, the home has a palpably transportive effect as one steps inside and closes the door. Smac Studio has created a series of connected and flowing spaces that become their own destination – places of calm, relaxation and contentment.
Home to a young family, Introspection is grounded in a natural base, where familiar and enduring materials shape the interior spaces and create a soft place to land. Remaining open and connected to the outdoor-focused lifestyle that is so valued in Sydney, interventions within the existing structure ensure natural light and air fill the home. Sheer linen drapery aids in the diffusing of natural light while enhancing privacy and screening from the closely located neighbouring homes. The integration of landscape that buffers both the built edges and the perimeters of the site also aids in that sense of connection to the natural environment, bringing greenery into the interior experience of the home.
The calmed base palette is brought to life through subtle integrations of colour, with the presence of powder blue referencing the nearby ocean and used in both custom textiles and in a custom paint finish in one of the bathrooms. In its own interpretation of the coastal aesthetic and a connection to context, the blending of light tones enhances a feeling of scale and perceived volumetric proportions internally, also becoming an ideal base for the introduction of select colour. Artwork, furniture and lighting is then layered throughout, bringing an expression of personality and adding a textural depth and richness to the interiors. Each piece has been carefully selected and tells its own story, contributing to the narrative of the spaces without interrupting the overall flow and restful feel intended throughout.
The integration of landscape that buffers both the built edges and the perimeters of the site also aids in that sense of connection to the natural environment, bringing greenery into the interior experience of the home.
