The Houses Awards, which celebrate Australia’s finest residential properties in Australia, awarded top prizes to a 1970s house on Sydney’s waterfront. A Bryon Bay home with an underground pool and a Bryon Bay mansion.
There were also a contemporary cabin on an island in Tasmania, and a beautiful home in Melbourne with 8 separate courtyards.
FEMAIL takes a look at some of the best properties across the nation – starting with a Japanese-inspired home that features an all white interior, to a Federation-style cottage featuring a contemporary extension and an angle house with a pyramid-shaped roof.
These homes are certain to please, from a seventies heritage house on Sydney’s waterfront (pictured) to an all-white home inspired by Japan in Portsea Victoria.
SRG House, Sydney, New South Wales
This stunning, three-storey home is heritage listed and nestled on the Parramatta River cliffs. It has been meticulously renovated to keep its charm.
Original built in 1972, the SRG House was renovated by Fox Johnston and named after Sir Roy Grounds, a renowned Australian architect. It won the award for best heritage house.
With retro cork flooring, curved built-in furniture and red Japanese finger tile accents, the interior reflects seventies design.
The kitchen is made from raw timber and flows to the living and dining rooms which have floor-to ceiling windows that let in light and show off the beautiful views.
This stunning, three-storey, heritage-listed house is hidden away on Sydney’s waterfront. It overlooks the Parramatta River and has been meticulously renovated to keep its charm.
Interior features include curved furniture and retro cork flooring. Red Japanese finger tiles are also used. The kitchen flows seamlessly into the living area and dining room, which have floor to ceiling windows that let in light and show off the beautiful views.
Federal House, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Federal House is perched high on a hill in the Byron Bay Hinterland. It was designed to offer sweeping views over surrounding forests from all rooms and act as a ‘peaceful refuge’ for its owners.
Designed by Kim Bridgland and Aaron Roberts of Melbourne architecture agency Edition Office, the one-of-a-kind property with a wraparound terrace and sunken pool was praised by judges for effectively blurring the lines between indoors and out.
Interior contrasts include dark wood, concrete and light wood floors juxtaposed with tan leather fixtures and lighter wooden floors.
Kim Bridgland, Aaron Roberts, of Edition Office Melbourne architecture agency was responsible for designing the Federal House. The unique Federal House is perched in a sloping landscape at the Byron Bay Hinterland and judges from the 2021 Houses Awards praised it for blurring lines between indoors & out.
A wraparound terrace and sunken pool (pictured left) was praised for brilliantly blurring the lines between indoors and out by judges at the 2021 Houses Awards
Killora Bay, North Bruny, Tasmania
The modern woods cabin is built from the dense forest of grass trees, ferns and white gums that surround Bruny Island’s southern coast.
Natural timber cladding wraps around the Killora Bay home which is used as a tranquil holiday home for architect Lara Maeseele and her young family, with dark natural textures, an open-air bathroom, and a living, dining and kitchen space with huge glass doors that open out to the surrounding bushland.
The modern woods cabin is built from the dense forests of grass tress, fern bushes and white gums that cover Bruny Island’s South.
Lara Maeseele (architect) and her family use Killora Bay’s home as their seasonal home. Natural timber cladding surrounds the home.
Dark natural textures are used throughout the home, as well as an open-air, open-air, bathroom and large living and dining areas that overlook the forest.
Franklin and Portsea in Victoria
Ola Studio, a Melbourne architect firm, was asked by a single client to create a Japanese-inspired fuzzy white cocoon that would be ‘privately peaceful, organic, and fresh’.
Modern Japanese interior design is reflected in the all-white home. It features minimalist furniture, screen room partitions, and pendant lights that are akari. Meanwhile the eclectic tastes of the homeowner add subtle but noticeable colour to the house.
The modern, resort-style pool can be surrounded with raw concrete textures and sunken gardens beds. This creates a feeling of peace and tranquility.
Melbourne architect firm Ola Studio received a unique brief for the Franklin house. It was asked to design a Japanese-inspired fuzzy white cocoon that would be ‘private and peaceful’, organic, natural, and fresh.
Modern Japanese interior design is reflected in this all-white home. It features minimalist furniture, screen room dividers, and pendant lights that are akari. The owner’s unique art style adds subtle and muted pops of colour throughout the house.
The modern, resort-style pool surrounds itself with raw concrete textures. Sunken garden beds provide a feeling of calm.
East Fremantle, Perth, WA
This house in East Fremantle has a sleek modern extension designed by Nic Brunsdon that is juxtaposed with the heritage Federation cottage it was added to.
Modern finishes and a minimalistic kitchen are the highlights of this home. The chic sunken living area opens onto the courtyard.
The hallways connecting the extensions to the heritage house are lined with grey and exposed bricks. This creates light-filled spaces that have timber beam ceilings and concrete floors.
This East Fremantle house has a sleek, modern extension by Nic Brunsdon. It is juxtaposed to the heritage Federation cottage that it was attached to
It looks as if it came straight out of a magazine. The home’s modern minimalistic kitchen features a skylight, modern finishes and chic sunken living space that opens to the lush courtyard.
The hallways connecting the extensions to the heritage house are filled with grey and exposed brick walls. These lead to bright living spaces featuring timber beam ceilings and concrete floors.
Bellows House Flinders Victoria
Bellows House’s striking feature is the sculptured reverse-pyramid roofing. This remarkable geometric structure made of concrete blocks and masonry blocks, located in Flinders in Victorian country Victoria, stands out above living and dining areas.
Bellows House is designed by Melbourne-based Architects EAT. The modern kitchen combines dark wood, concrete and brick textures.
Bellows House is home to the most striking feature: sculptured reverse-pyramid rooftops. These roofs rise above living and dining areas.
Bellows House sits in a stylish courtyard with an open firepit, wooden decking and a beautiful garden.
Modern kitchens combine matte-black, concrete, and red brick textures.
Eight Yard House, Melbourne, Victoria
Eight Yard House is located in North Fitzroy (Melbourne) and brings in the outdoors with an array of spaces, courtyards, and open-air areas that blend seamlessly into the house.
Studio Bright Melbourne’s architecture firm designed this family home.
The striking façade with modern patterned brickwork and a clean line design is juxtaposed with the neighbouring traditional terraced homes.
Eight Yard House is located in North Fitzroy (Melbourne) and brings in the outdoors with an array of spaces, courtyards, and open-air areas that blend seamlessly into the house.
Studio Bright Melbourne architects designed this modern family home.
Long Road, Mount Tamborine, Queensland
The stunning home is situated in the Gold Coast Hinterlands, close to Mount Tamborine village.
This courtyard, which is pebble-floored and has creeping vines, seamlessly integrates into the dark wood interior. It features chic black walls and columns and timber panelled ceilings.
This stunning rural home is located in the Gold Coast Hinterlands near Mount Tamborine Village. It has a beautiful green-tiled bathroom and wooden shutter doors which open onto the lush rainforest.
This courtyard, which is pebble-floored and has creeping vines, seamlessly integrates into the dark wooden interior. It features chic black walls with pillars and ceilings that are timber paneled.