StudioFour is a Melbourne based architect collective aiming to provide a unique approach to residential architecture and design. Founded in 2010 by Annabelle Berryman and Sarah Henry, their goal is to combine architecture and art with their innovative designers and 20 years of combined prior industry experience. Amongst the many spectacular houses StudioFour has designed in Melbourne, one, in particular, was a standout in 2020.
Specially designed for StudioFour’s co-founder Sarah Henry, this design brings to life her perfect family home in Ruxton Rise. The standout of this house is the courtyard incorporated in the centre of the place, which you can reach after descending a narrow staircase from street level. With planted olive and cedar trees, this minimalistic and luxurious design allows for quiet reading spaces or calming common areas to enjoy quality time, providing the perfect tranquil home for Sarah and her two daughters.
In a similar desire to combine indoor and outdoor spaces, a home in the suburb of Glen Iris aims to provide a functional home whilst also acting as an inner sanctuary. Consisting of four bedrooms and two bathrooms, the architects at StudioFour achieved this inner oasis by implementing a garden going directly through the centre of the property.
As you walk through the house, northern light is allowed to pour in from every direction from the internal garden, giving this family calming private views. Rooms that require more privacy for sleeping and studying are located on the surrounding edges of the house, tucked away from the eyes of the neighbours. The outside of the house was left all white to reflect a “blank canvas” and portrays the shadows of oak trees that line the suburban street.
On a slanting golf course surrounded by tea trees outside of Melbourne lies the one-of-a-kind getaway home, Ridge Road Residence. Using the Australian rural landscape to its advantage, the architects at StudioFour created an enclosed sanctuary by embracing the surroundings and staggering the levels of the house to create a multi-dimensional effect. The floor to ceiling windows and black stained timber create a holiday home feel and allow expansive views over the long grass in the Australian bush. If the word hygge (Danish for cosy) resonates with you, your dream home might look a little something like this Central Park Road Residence: an all-black house designed to create feelings of comfort, wellness and warmth. Soft light and brown brickwork complement the black exterior of the home and result in the perfect place to read a book by the fire. No matter what your vision of your future or family home looks like, StudioFour allows you to explore luxurious and minimalistic designs and bring your dream to life.