Originality, innovation, sustainability – each of the 20 houses in the 2023 Selection of Habitus House of the Year showcases the outstanding feats of modern architecture and design from the Indo Pacific region.
Editorially selected, House of the Year is unique in its approach and execution – it cannot be entered – rather each of the homes in the line-up was whittled down and hand-picked by the Indesign editorial board.
The curatorial approach and bold collection of houses express a true diversity of what it means to live in design in the 21st century. In this regard, more than any other program, it is a petri dish of the forces and factors influencing our homes.
From sprawling, monolithic coastal homes, to incredibly small but clever apartments in Hong Kong – we can see at a glance that to live in design is to truly live in a way that suits you.
Always searching for new ways to showcase the best homes, this year’s edition of Habitus House of the Year came to life with three bespoke events over the course of one week in Sydney. The culmination and final one being the reveal party, hosted by K5 Furniture.
Habitus House of the Year 2023 would not be possible without our friends – Major Partners Kaolin Tiles, Technogym and K5 Furniture, alongside Supporting Partner Axolotl.
On the judging process
The 2023 Selection of 20 Houses was chosen by the Indesign editorial board, from houses published both online and in print throughout the year. We then called in some experts – Hannah Tribe, principal of Tribe Studio, Fiona Lynch, founder Fiona Lynch Design Office and Christopher Boots, founder of lighting design studio Christopher Boots.
The jury tuned in online and reviewed each of the 20 houses against the judging criteria which covered – response to site and context, response to brief, materiality, spatial planning and program, and sustainability.
THE WINNER IS…
Lightly Weighted House by Oli Booth Architects
This small but innovative project shows how to have big impact, even when space is limited. Set in Grey Lynn in Auckland, the densely urban surrounds appear to fade away thanks to the architectural devices that give this home a sense of seclusion.
Juror Hannah Tribe notes: “It’s really clever and elegant. It’s richly finished, but not extravagant.”
A sentiment shared by Jan Henderson who says, “You have that feeling like it’s in the middle of absolutely nowhere, because it has been crafted so beautifully, and on such an incredibly tight footprint – what a fantastic achievement.”
Another juror, Fiona Lynch says,” I love how compact the spaces are. It’s not ostentatious but there is a lovely quietness to it.”
While it was a unanimous decision on the winning house, there were two other worthy honourable mentions.
HONOURABLE MENTION – BEST ADAPTIVE RE-USE
Weeties Warehouse by spaceagency
This warehouse abode takes three previously converted warehouses, recombining them into one large family home. A large internal envelope allows planning inside the cavernous space of what was once a factory, without shying away from showcasing its original purpose in life.
As an adaptive re-use project, spaceagency has meticulously design a home that brings in all the needs for this family – space, light, greenery and privacy. It’s a showcase of design excellence.
HONOURABLE MENTION – MOST INNOVATIVE
Studio House by William Samuels Architects
Responding to the growing needs for a different approach to housing, Studio House by William Samuels Architects is a case study of how a home can be created differently. Designed as a moveable and transportable home, is currently sited on leased land, but the compact space can essentially be moved at a later date when the homeowners (who are also the architects) have purchased their own land.
This home is an example of ingenuity and creative thinking, and all of the jury wanted to highlight its potential.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Horizon Flinders by Mim Design, and BH Architects
Chosen by you, our readers – Horizon Flinders is a home that doesn’t do anything by halves. Large in scale and refined in aesthetic, this a home that unsurprisingly caught your attention.
Habitus House of the Year is made possible with our Major Partners K5 Furniture, Kaolin Tiles and Technogym, and Supporting Partner Axolotl.
