An architect’s own home with a secret courtyard at its heart reveals a deeply personal exploration of design, lifestyle and longevity. Designed by Shaun Lockyer Architects as a downsized residence for Shaun and Julie Lockyer, the Brisbane home reflects decades of architectural thinking distilled into a place that prioritises experience, landscape, art and connection.
Located within Brisbane’s inner-city suburb of Newstead, the residence is concealed behind a modest streetscape, creating an unexpected sanctuary within a highly urban environment. Surrounded by commercial buildings, apartments and warehouses, the home embraces privacy through a lush landscape setting that immediately shifts the experience from city living to retreat. This sense of discovery is central to an architect’s own home with a secret courtyard at its heart, where every sequence has been carefully considered to reveal moments of surprise.
The spatial arrangement unfolds gradually. A compressed entry marked by a skylit void leads into a more introspective section of the home, where art and material richness define the experience. Beyond this threshold, the residence opens into a north-facing pavilion surrounded by gardens on two sides. This central living space forms the heart of the home, creating a seamless relationship between architecture and landscape while maximising natural light and connection to the outdoors.
At the centre of the pavilion sits the kitchen, designed as a gathering place rather than a purely functional workspace. Anchored by a striking Alpi Verde green benchtop, the kitchen integrates effortlessly into the broader living environment through carefully detailed joinery and concealed appliances. Miele appliances complement this approach, supporting the architecture through durability, simplicity and understated performance. Throughout an architect’s own home with a secret courtyard at its heart, every element has been selected to contribute to a cohesive and enduring living experience.
Materiality plays an equally important role in shaping the atmosphere. Concrete, stone and textured blockwork establish a sense of permanence and resilience, while custom timber detailing introduces warmth, character and patina. Slight variations in handcrafted elements and deliberately retained imperfections create a home that feels authentic and deeply human.
Art is woven into the architecture from the earliest stages of design. Much of the collection was acquired specifically for the residence, with artwork locations incorporated directly into the technical drawings. This integrated approach allows architecture, landscape and art to operate as a single experience rather than separate components.
Ultimately, an architect’s own home with a secret courtyard at its heart is a reflection of values developed over a lifetime of practice. Built by M2 Construct and shaped by the hands of skilled craftspeople, the residence balances function, beauty and meaning. As an architect’s own home with a secret courtyard at its heart, the project stands as a testament to the power of designing with intention, authenticity and care.
0:00 – Introduction To An Architect’s Own Home With a Secret Courtyard at Its Heart
1:34 – A Walk Through Of An Architect’s Home In Newstead
2:57 – Incorporating Miele Appliances Into The Kitchen Space
4:17 – Sense Of Resilience From The Materiality
5:54 – A Passion Project For All
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Photography by David Chatfield.
Architecture and interior design by Shaun Lockyer Architects.
Build by M2 Construct.
Landscape design by Raw Botanicals.
Joinery by Finer Living.
Appliances by Miele.
Artwork by Jonathan Crowther, CJ Hendry, Matthew Johnson, Bundit Puangthong, Bronwyn Searle, Sue Smorthwaite, Peter Summers, Jake Walker, Richard Whadcock and Nathan Wilkinson.
Filmed and edited by HN Media.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land in Australia. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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