In architecture, we talk about “softening” a lot. It’s a deliberate design strategy to balance the “hard” elements with textures and layers that create emotional warmth, addressing the sensory experience of a home.
Think of the contrast between the raw, off-form concrete wall and the warmth of a timber cladding; Breaking up a rigid, rectilinear floor plan with a curved and rounded eaves. There’s also soft lighting, greenery, and acoustics that make the atmosphere feel intimate.
Architecture is a balance of strength and sensitivity. When we soften a building, we’re making it more human, creating a sanctuary that responds to how you feel, move, and breathe within the wall.
#AMoABrunswickEastHouse
@offform.build
#ArchitectureDetail #SoftMinimalism #TactileDesign #LivingSpaces
Soaking up the autumn light while this @mudoffice garden settles in. Our wonderful client has been doing an incredible job with the maintenance! We can’t wait for spring to roll around so we can get the professional photos taken.
#AMoAJanJucHouse
Builder: @bolder_constructions
Structure: @donnellyengineers
Landscape: @mudoffice
#ResidentialArchitecture #LandscapeDesign #brick
People often ask about our AI workflow. To be honest? It’s rudimentary at best. We tried Midjourney, let the subscription lapse, and went back to basics—until a “light bulb” moment this week.
We’re reworking a mid-century merchant builder’s home. I started with a rough site photo and spent five minutes in Photoshop for a quick visualisation. It was “dodgy,” but it gave me the direction I needed.
I was about to mask in some travertine when I decided to give Gemini’s new “Nano Banana” engine a whirl. It handled the stone perfectly, so I had it render the timber wall cladding too.
A quick use of my iPhone “Clean Up” tool to delete the air-con and downlights, back to Gemini for some mid-century furniture, and a bit of manual Photoshop for the artwork—job done.
A bit of a hybrid, slightly lo-fi, but effective.
These were the exact images we presented to the client this week. Happy days.
#AMoABeverlyHillsHouse
#MidCenturyModern #MidCenturyHome #MerchantBuilders #nanobanana
Who remembers this? This one is for the archi-nerds like me!
Back at uni, I was obsessed with D’Arcy Thompson’s On Growth and Form. His thesis—that the shape of every living thing is a response to the physical forces acting upon it—has always stayed with me. It’s the idea that everything in nature, and by extension, architecture, follows a latent order of ratios and geometry.
Following on from yesterday’s post, this off-form concrete spiral staircase does exactly that. It isn’t just a functional element; it’s a manifestation of nature’s geometry. As the concrete cured within the formwork, it captured a moment of structural “growth”—a permanent record of gravity and centrifugal force rendered in a raw, honest material.
There is something deeply grounding about a space that aligns with these natural laws. You don’t just see the spiral; you feel the logic of it.
#AMoABrunswickEastHouse
@offform.build
#DarcyThompson #ConcreteArchitecture
#SpiralStaircase
Progress on site. #AMoABrunswickEastHouse
It’s exciting watching this build unfold, especially as the formwork for the concrete spiral staircase is stripped away, revealing such a powerful shape and texture.
I love this phase of the project—when honest, raw materials juxtapose with the natural light. You can truly feel the volume of the rooms; it’s as if the space is starting to whisper to you.
Kudos to the builder @offform.build and the perseverance of the team for pulling this off.
With lock-up now achieved, we’ll spend the next few weeks focusing on the internal fit-out. More updates to come.
#concretearchitecture #lightandshadows #residentialdesign #modernhome
Work in progress: #AMoABrunswickEastHouse
We were back on-site this morning to see the superstructure reach completion.
Off-form, in-situ concrete is a true craft. It looks effortless when finished, but it’s the result of over 12 months of rigorous pre-planning, trade coordination, and architectural fine-tuning.
We brought our clients along for every step of that journey, ensuring every design rationale was clear. Seeing the vaulted skylight boxes finally catching the light in two directions—and hearing the clients call it their favourite decision—makes the long hours of iteration completely worth it.
The build continues. Stay tuned for more updates.
Builder: @offform.build
#concretearchitecture #lightandshadows #residentialdesign #modernhome
Design is often a conversation between the past and the present. Starting 2026 back in Studley Park, working on a home originally designed by John Scarborough. It was built around the same time he was designing the Baillieu Library in Melbourne University, and you can feel that mid-century rigor in the bones of the house.
What makes this project unique is the layer added by my client—a retired architect who has treated the original structure with incredible reverence. Now, I’m adding the third chapter.
The brief is simple in function—transitioning the home to single-level living—but complex in spirit. I’m feeling the vulnerability of working under the gaze of two mentors, one from history and one across the meeting table.
#StudleyPark #JohnScarborough #MidCenturyModern #Kew #HeritageExtension
Handover!
Huge achievement for the team, especially this time of year. And we're three weeks ahead of practical completion! Happy client, happy day. Now let's finish the landscaping before Christmas!
#AMoADiDiHouse
@de.build@seyfferdesigns@mode_landscape@donnellyengineers
#residential #residentialdesign #residentialarchitecture #house #housedesign #hawthorn #heritage #heritagehouse #heritagehome #heritagerenovation #alterationandaddition #altsandadds #pantry #pantrygoals #pantrydesign #bathroom #bathroomdesign #bathroominspo #bathroomgoals #arches
Last Thursday in Melbourne and last night in Sydney, I had the distinct honor of celebrating the life and work of two of Australia’s most generous, respected, and legendary architects, @nation.bob and @stephen.varady . These events were made possible with the generous support of @brickworksbp
The original DoubleTalk series, which began in October 2015, ran for four years until 2019. Hosted by Bob and Stephen, the series saw an incredible 58 talks across six cities, featuring 116 architects and speakers.
Now, with my co-host Hannah Tribe @tribestudio_ we decided to switch things up! We put the legends themselves, Bob and Stephen, on stage for these special nights, which we aptly named DoubleTalk Reversed.
It was a fun and truly memorable experience. A huge thank you once again to Bob and Stephen for their fantastic and inspiring talks!
#doubletalk #doubletalkreversed #australianarchitecture #australianarchitects #forzajuve
Defects inspection day at our DiDi House this morning!
Half of our projects are alterations and additions to heritage houses. Our process involves a beautiful balance: we restore and furnish the original part of the house to its former glory, and then design a very considered and detailed contemporary addition to suit our client’s needs and lifestyle.
This project is an Edwardian house in Hawthorn. For the new kitchen, we looked to the home’s history for inspiration. We reinterpreted the Oxford Blue often associated with Edwardian-period interiors and redeployed that deep, rich tone using @laminexau French Navy.
The junction between the old part of the house and the new addition is a key design feature. It’s connected by a sculptural space, which subtly evokes the extravagant timber arches found in hallways from that period.
The new exterior is finished simply but expertly. It’s cladded in Viroc cement panels—in a way, the modern-day weatherboard—chosen for being lightweight, easy to use onsite and virtually maintainance free.
#AMoADiDiHouse
Builder: @de.build
Structure: @donnellyengineers
Landscape: @seyfferdesigns
#residential #residentialdesign #residentialarchitecture #house #housedesign #hawthorn #heritage #heritagehouse #heritagehome #heritagerenovation #alterationandaddition #altsandadds #kitchen #kitchendesign #kitcheninspiration #kitchengoals
Doing my rounds this week, and spent the morning at our Jan Juc House.
It’s always a privilege to see the design fully realised, but the real magic is seeing our clients truly occupy the space. When their life and persona take over, the house becomes a home.
Today I was particularly taken by the material contrast: the warmth of the internal blackbutt timber set against the earth-toned bricks on the exterior. It’s a robust yet welcoming embrace against the elements.
Can’t wait for the proper photo shoot when the landscape is a bit more mature, but I’ll share a few more sneak peeks in the coming days!
#AMoAJanJucHouse
Builder: @bolder_constructions
Structure: @donnellyengineers
Landscape: @mudoffice
#residential #residentialdesign #residentialarchitecture #residentialhomes #brick #bricks #brickarchitecture #brickhouse #brickhome #brickhomes #homes #house #housedesign #housearchitecture #coastalliving #coastalretreat #coastalhome #coastalstyle #coastalrealestate #janjuc #surfing #bellsbeach
Seddon Long House. My phone shots from this morning.
The client are 6 weeks in. We have injected a whole heaps of fun in this brand new build, not the brown and beige that you see on your feed everyday that’s for sure!
We have also packed a lot in in this tight site and utilised every square millimetres, yet still allowing plenty of natural lights into the house while maintaining privacy to and from the home.
Is it a little bit Japanesy? Perhaps just a touch 🤏— a nod to tiled facade and thoughtful details. We just need it to stop raining so that the client can open up all those bifold windows and use those concrete ledge seats!
#AMoASeddonLongHouse
Builder: @fortier.built
Structure: @am_a.eng
Landscape: @saintremystudio
#residential #residentialdesign #residentialarchitecture #residentialhomes #homes #house #housedesign #housearchitecture #smallhouse #smallhome #seddon #seddonvillage #tiles #tilefacade
