Australia Trends Home Trends Volume 31 No 1 Australia | Page 36

Preceding pages: With timber decks
and a swimming pool flush with the
interior, the boundaries between
inside and out are blurred. Stepping
stones lead across the pool to the
lawn and the century-old rain trees
that provide welcome shade.
Above: A sculptural staircase
is a defining part of the interior
architecture. It helps to screen the
living room from the entry.

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As with all new houses
designed by Ong&Ong, the
home has a close connection
with the landscape.
“Blurring the transition
between inside and out is a
trademark of our residential
architecture,” says Arango.
“We always like to emphasise
the tropicality of our projects.
Removing the barriers between
inside and out also makes the
spaces feel much larger.”

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The architect says the
owners can enjoy the landscape more readily when there
is a seamless flow between the
interior and outdoors.
“It is not the same looking
out through glass,” she says.
“With the doors open, it’s also
possible to create cross ventilation, so the breezes pass
through the house, doing away
with the need for constant air
conditioning.”

White marble floors feature
throughout the ground floor.
These flow out to teak decks
and a long lap pool with a
Jacuzzi at one end – on the
other side of a stepping stone
bridge that leads to the lawn
and the rain trees. An imported
Japanese bonsai tree and a
large sculpture that echoes the
form of the spiral staircase are
additional focal points in the
landscape.