Lightbox House
A playful family home that brings the ease of a holiday house to everyday life.
Lightbox House is a family home for an architect and interior designer couple and their two children, built on a compact, sloping site close to the town centre. It blurs the line between everyday suburban living and the relaxed feel of a holiday house, making the most of every square metre while keeping a genuine beachside character and a strong sense of fun. Its glowing, backlit garage gives the house its name.
Completion
2024
Services
Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Design
Client
Private Client
Location
Ocean Grove, VIC
Room for a Family of Four
The brief called for a home that would fit everything a family of four needs onto a small site, efficiently and cost effectively. It had to keep the laid back feel of living near the beach, with spaces for living, working, playing and relaxing. Robust finishes and a nod to mid-century coastal houses would help it feel at home by the beach.
Small, Sloping and on a Busy Road
The site is compact, sloping and sits on a busy road. The house needed to protect the family’s privacy from the street, feel spacious despite its small footprint, and stay connected inside without anyone feeling on show, all within a sensible budget. Every space needed to work hard, with rooms that could do more than one job.
Looking Inward, Building Upward
We reinterpreted the classic Beachcomber house, with drive-in parking below and living above. The street front is kept quiet, while split levels and changing ceiling heights create a home that turns inward, full of connected spaces and surprises like a private studio and a study nook. A simple form rests on the garage and nestles into the hillside.
A Garage That Glows
The backlit polycarbonate garage glows at night, guiding visitors to the door and shifting colour like a mood ring. Inside, a parent in the study can keep an eye on the kids, and the laundry opens into a vivid orange room. A native, low-maintenance garden means more time enjoying the house and less time looking after it. Pops of mint green structure and natural timber accents add warmth and a playful touch.
