A childhood idea of home, reinterpreted for modern living.
This semi-detached home in its original condition had its rear yard closed off from the rest of the house, limiting the very connection to outdoor space that a young professional couple needed most. The renovation by @mattdayarchitect opens the home entirely, with new living spaces spilling out to private open space and a first floor addition to the rear. The design draws its inspiration from the most universal idea of a house, the simple gable roof, translating that childlike notion into a piece of modern architecture defined by purity of form and order of structure.
🏡 You can view Randwick and more projects by Matt Day Architect via their studio member page on CO-architecture → link in bio.
💭 Thinking of renovating or extending your home? Start your journey with CO-architecture — where Australia’s leading architects and designers help you bring your vision to life.
Architecture: Matt Day Architect
Photographer: @_katlu
Builder: Nordarcon Constructions
Engineer: E2 Structural
Banteay Srei Temple - Siem Reap - 10th century masterpiece of intricate and detailed carvings in pink sandstone - a marvel. #banteaysreitemple #banteaysrei #banteay #ancientarchitecture
A home where inside and outside are seamlessly intertwined.
This thoughtful alteration and addition transforms a 1930s freestanding brick and tile cottage in Tempe shifting it from an inward-looking, thermally inefficient house into a light-filled, outward-connected home. Designed by @mattdayarchitect around outdoor living as the central driver, the project blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior, creating a fluid experience of space, light, and landscape.
🏡 You can view Tempe and more projects by Matt Day Architect via their studio member page on CO-architecture → link in bio.
💭 Thinking of transforming your home to better connect with its surroundings?
Start your journey with CO-architecture—where Australia’s leading architects and designers help you bring your vision to life.
Architecture: Matt Day Architect
Photographer: Matt Day
Landscape: @even_spaces
Engineer: PMI Structural Engineers
Sanctuary 74 is our backyard studios special, where we look at the potential of backyard builds to add flexibility to your home and increase urban density in a considered fashion. From lush garden dwellings to lofted offices and adaptable beachside studios, these projects show whats possible with a light footprint.
Plus, Sustainable House Day returns on Sunday 17 May 2026! In this issue, we step inside some standout participating homes, with sneak peeks at plenty more to spark your inspiration. Elsewhere, @mattdayarchitect helps a Melbourne couple update their 1940s home, @maravillagedreaming shares tips for a garden that supports habitat, Rachel Rose talks air quality monitoring, and we offer design inspo to plan your dream window seat and new favourite reading nook. Grab this issue from your local newsagent, at our website or subscribe now! Enjoy! Photo: @belindamonck
Another great iteration of the informal and spontaneous studio talks series.
Thanks to @peterstutchburyarchitecture for organizing Bijoy Ramachandran of @hundredhandsblr from Bangalore to come and speak.
It is always fabulous to get the extended beaches, architectural community together. As is becoming the norm, last night the room was filled with local elders, builders, students, council planners and travelers.
Bijoy has a remarkable ability to articulate his thinking and ground it in a spatial and historical context. And in the midst of the pressures of everybody’s daily practice, it is always necessary to have our gaze lifted@like it was last night
@mattdayarchitect@sueharperarchitects@mattelkan@kieren_moxey@emelie_clarke
Tempe Garden House
The design centres on outdoor living as the key spatial driver
With 3 interconnected gardens that weave through the suburban block, merging architecture and landscape.
* Courtyard garden A densely planted courtyard garden between the living room and covered outdoor dining area channels the traditional “looking into garden” relationship inspired by Japanese houses.
* Rear garden The rear garden unfolds as a vibrant outdoor living hub with play spaces, vegetable beds, rainwater harvesting, and a dramatic brick wall backdrop for outdoor cinema events.
* Green roof garden Above the dining room, a green roof garden connects visually and spatially to the master bedroom, enhancing thermal comfort and providing a quiet retreat.
Together, these gardens enable the house to breathe with filtered summer breezes and natural light, making the home a sustainable shelter within nature.
Landscape architect @even_spaces
#sustainablearchitecture #sydneyarchitecture #timberhouse #gardenhouse
#recycledbrick
Gathering, retreat and coastal outlooks.
Once a dated 1980s residence, this freestanding home has been thoughtfully transformed by @mattdayarchitect into a place for both entertaining and escape. By retaining the existing structure and reworking key spaces, the design now embraces its northern aspect and sweeping views across Pittwater to Lion Island, anchored by a generous covered outdoor living area that connects everyday life to sun, sky and scenery.
💭 Thinking of renovating or building your dream home?
Start your journey with CO‑architecture—where Australia’s leading architects and designers help you bring your dream home to life.
🏡 Explore more homes like this & connect with a designer who fits your style → link in bio.
Architecture: Matt Day Architect
Photographer: @_clintonweaver
Builder: Cunningham Building Solutions
Engineer: @pmiengineers
A brilliant evening on Pittwater with the beaches architectural community, students and friends listening to Rick and Professor Max talk about nature and structure . Seems like all you need to know to be a good architect or engineer is ….everything..
Or maybe just to possess a boundless sense of curiosity.
Great to hang out with so many good people in such a fantastic spot.
Organised collectively by
@incidentalarchitecture@peterstutchburyarchitecture@mattdayarchitect
And others
With music generously provided by @sagarviolin
