This award-winning Southern Highlands home redesign by AO Design Studio has us obsessed.
Prepare to be impressed as we go for a a sticky beak around this incredibly gorgeous home in Woodlands.
The team at AO Design Studio were handed an incredible challenge to transform a 1970s brick homestead into a modern, spacious and sustainable home. And they most definitely met the brief.
They actually did such an incredible job on this project that they received a National Design Award from the BDAA [Building Designers Association of Australia], and after spending time exploring the property we can tell that it was well deserved.
Come with us as we take a tour of House Woodlands by AO Design Studio.
The owners of the home had a vision to modernise the house and add much needed space for a growing family. They wanted the design to be intuitive and innovative and they also wanted to make it more energy-efficient. The core idea was straightforward yet effective, using passive design to capture maximum solar heat and thermal efficiency.
For us, one of the most successful aspects of the new additions is that you would never know when walking through the house. The new and the old seamlessly blend into one beautiful home, with stunning views everywhere you look.
In the Kitchen, we we’re amazed by the natural light flooding in, clean lines, sleek surfaces and open feeling of the space. We see it as a wonderful spot for a morning coffee whilst you breathe in your beautiful surroundings.
The pool and spa that were added to the north of the house are perfect for entertaining. The floor level at the house is set up to have unobstructed views over the pool to the surrounding bushland. We were stunned by the breathtaking views, and we couldn’t help but marvel at how it added a whole new dimension of charm to the entire space.
And on the east side of the pool, AO Design Studio added a beautiful and functional pool pavilion. It’s a prime spot to relax after a swim and it also has an office and room for guests when they come to visit. A perfect example of flexible spaces in the design.
AO Design Studio told us that sustainable design is the underlying philosophy for all their projects and that House Woodlands is a perfect example of this. They used as much of the existing building as they could whilst updating the glazing and insulation for better energy efficiency.
Also, by using a burnished concrete slab for flooring the house can soak up the warmth during the day and slowly release it in the evening. This means the house stays cosy and comfortable without costly energy bills and a reduced impact on the environment.
Many of the materials used on the house were recycled or sourced locally as another way to keep that sustainable element. Consideration was also given to the uniqueness of our Highlands climate. AO Design Studio thought about things like bushfire resilience, the colours of the natural landscape, and allowing for ageing in place. Keeping the house all on one level with wider corridors and adaptable spaces, allowing the owners to stay within the home until much later in life.
We’re very impressed with the amount of incredible work the team at AO Design Studio have managed to achieve in this job and will be keeping up with their social media pages to admire other wonderful projects they share.
One more look at this wonderful outdoor space before we go.
If you’re thinking about doing some work on your own home then we recommend reaching out to AO Design Studio for a chat. You can give them a call or head into their office on Station Street in Bowral. The team are lovely and have plenty of thoughtful ideas for making the most of every home.
Project Details:
Location: Woodlands, New South Wales
Traditional land of the Gundungurra People
Architects: AO Design Studio
Interiors: AO Design Studio + Partridge Daniels
Structural & Hydraulic: Northrop
Landscape Design: Susie Reynolds
Landscaper: Josh Shepherd
Photography: Luc Remond
Studio Description:
AO Design Studio is an Architecture and Interiors Office located in Bowral, the heart of the Southern Highlands. Their focus is on creating unique, beautiful, and timeless homes that a deeply personal to each of their clients. AO Design Studio has over 10 years of experience in the Southern Highlands in delivering quality contemporary architecture through a collaborative approach.
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