Passage House

The Passage House is a 750-square-metre contemporary family residence designed to balance scale, comfort, and the realities of everyday living. Created for a family of four, the home is carefully organised around how each space is genuinely used, ensuring that despite its size, it feels intimate, grounded, and connected rather than overwhelming.

The planning strategy separates quieter, occasional-use spaces from the highly active areas of daily family life. Guest accommodation, a home theatre, Lego room, and workshop are located within two discreet wings, providing privacy and retreat while allowing the home to function efficiently. This zoning ensures calm moments exist alongside vibrant family activity, preventing the house from feeling like a vast or underutilised residence.

Circulation plays a central role in shaping the experience of the home. Concealed doors along the corridors subtly reduce the perception of long hallways while introducing moments of discovery and surprise. These design details enhance movement through the house and contribute to a layered, engaging spatial experience.

The living, dining, and kitchen areas are positioned to the north to maximise natural light, warmth, and passive comfort throughout the day. These spaces form the heart of the home, supporting the way the family lives, gathers, and connects. An open-tread timber staircase leads to the upper level, where the home divides again into two distinct zones. A bridge overlooking the double-height living space connects to the parents’ retreat, oriented north and anchored by a generous bay window that captures light and outlook. The opposite wing accommodates the teenagers’ rooms and guest spaces, balancing independence with connection.

Budget was a key consideration from the outset. Material selections were prioritised where the family spends the majority of their time, with stone benchtops, Venetian plaster, fluted timber, and Italian marble adding warmth, texture, and longevity. The result is a refined, highly liveable home that supports family life while delivering enduring architectural value.