An honest, simple and adaptable architects own home grounded in its connection to the environment, Double North House continuously transforms depending on the weather, light and needs of the inhabitants.
Located in a hilly suburb of Brisbane, Double North House is the architects own home. Chris Furminger, architect and builder of Double North House reflects, “this is quite a unique situation for us, being our family home – Tijana, my partner, being the client, and myself as the architect. We created the brief together, making a list of rooms and requirements so that our family could grow into it.”
The renovation of the architects own home presented an opportunity for experimentation and to elevate the existing cottage into a modern build. “What drew us to this site was the lovely established gardens of the neighbouring properties and the opportunity to expand quite a small footprint,” says Chris. He continues, “we also saw this as an opportunity to test certain elements on our own home – being the builder and working with the materials in close proximity allowed us to learn through making.”
As such, Chris reconfigures the home in a way that makes it more inviting and functional while respecting the existing footprint of the house. “Typically, with these long, narrow inner-city blocks, the central core of the building can be quite dark, so we wanted to make the centre the lightest part of the building so that all the rooms that surrounded it could be light-filled, single-layered and connected to breezes and views beyond,” says Chris.
One of the key moments within the architects own home is the tranquil garden space. “This allows for rooms on the lower level nearer to the garden to see the light change throughout the day and the seasons change throughout the year, and in a way, it doubles the northern light – hence giving the name Double North House,” says Chris.
The interior design of Double North House responds to its subtropical climate through retractable features, ventilation and circulation. Operable windows were introduced to control light, direct breezes and maintain privacy. Similarly, casement windows allow warm air to be funnelled from below up into the high-level rooms and out through the courtyard space. “The glazed interior of the home is protected by retractable shade sails. In the warmer months, they are closed to protect the glazing and add a level of filtered light down into the courtyard below. This allows the courtyard to maintain a cool temperature, cooling the home at the lower level,” says Chris.
The decor and materiality of the architects own home is simple and pared-back. “It was important for us to use materials in quite an honest fashion, where timber, stone and glass all represent themselves,” says Chris. This raw, tactile approach is complemented by greenery, timber joinery, a neutral palette and minimalist furnishings, imbuing a warm yet refined feeling.
The architects own home is a reimagined contemporary Brisbane inner-city cottage. Chris reflects, “what I enjoy most is how the spaces have different functions throughout the day and the year – how the spaces change through different light and different engagement with the landscape and the climate.”
00:00 – Introduction to the Architects Own Home
00:56 – The Design Process and Key Moments
01:41 – Developing A Personal and Familial Brief
03:50 – A Work From Home Retreat
04:17 – Using Honest and Organic Materials
04:42 – Favourite Aspects of the Home
05:10 – Proud Moments
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Photography by David Chatfield.
Architecture by Furminger.
Landscape design by Joey Brown and Furminger.
Filmed and edited by Dan Preston.
Production by The Local Project.
Location: Red Hill, Queensland, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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