Situated on a solid spot of land in the suburbs of Fairfield, Melbourne, The Good Life House was designed for a family of five. Completed by MRTN Architects, the contemporary home design rests in a hip area in the thick of Californian Bungalow and Arts and Crafts homes. Thanks to an earthy, natural color palette, The Good Life House rests with ease within its surrounding environment.
The street landscape played an important role in establishing how the modern design would fit within the context of the area. The sharp angular roof complements the gable roof forms lined up along the street, which all contribute to the overall vibe of the residential neighborhood.
Architect Antony Martin of MRTN Architects explains, “The house is sheltered under a pretty dominant roof form and the reason it does that is the context of the neighbourhood – when you’re walking down the street, you’ve got trees and front gardens and the form you’re most aware of is the roof form”.
Coming into the place, a generous entrance opens up to open plan living and dining areas as well as a spacious kitchen area equipped with a beautiful wooden island. The island also functions as a seated bar, ideal for entertaining guests or for spending cosy family nights in the kitchen.
The color palette of the kitchen is completely organic. Kitchen cabinets made of the same wood as the island, wooden beams and ceiling as well as brown tiles to match the wood cater a pure feel to the space. The heating and cooking is entirely powered by fossil free, highly energy efficient appliances and heat pump technologies.
The clients made clear from the getgo their desire for a family home that focuses on accommodating the five members of the family as a collection of individuals who live together rather than a single group. With that in mind, the kitchen, living and dining areas seamlessly flow from one to another while also allowing privacy for alone activities.
“In developing the plan, we looked at rambling country home plans, plans that are a collection of smaller spaces rather than expansive open plan homes that would not suit a need to be together and together apart. In place of a ‘Main Living’ and ‘TV’ or ‘Family Living’ type spaces we looked at ‘Quiet Living’ and Active Living’ rooms. Spaces to study or read were located in dedicated rooms but also in corridors, at windows and under stairs,” MRTN Architects explain.
Large glass windows allow an abundance of natural light to pour into each of the private as well as social areas. These windows slide open from the kitchen, granting access to the backyard area, which features an outdoor dining space. The green garden landscaping adds that extra bit of character to this energy-efficient modern family home.
