Habitus Magazine | Issue 52 – House Of The Year

What is it that makes a home outstanding? While Corbusier’s mantra of a home being ‘a machine for living’ has merit, I would argue that beyond function, a home should reflect its context and enable its owners to leave their own indelible mark. In this sense, a home is shaped by its inhabitants and their way of life just as much as the home gives them shelter and peace in return.

When searching for the 22 homes for the annual Habitus House of the Year program, these ideas of regionality and response to the client, brief and site were front and centre.

The range is diverse in terms of typology, location and purpose – there are small homes that perfectly suit their owners, large, expansive family homes, clever renovations, and homes for downsizers and multiple generations all together. It’s a diversity that reflects what it means to live in the Indo Pacific region in 2021 and each offers something unique.

You will find 17 homes on the pages of Habitus magazine with a further five online. A jury of independent experts came together over Zoom in mid-June to deliberate and select the home they saw as being the House of the Year (p44), but every single project in the line up is worthy of recognition.

Now it’s over to you – our loyal army of Design Hunters – to cast your vote and tell us which project you choose for the Habitus House of the Year People’s Choice award. Head to habitusliving.com/ houseoftheyear and submit your vote online to enter the draw to win the Ultimate Design Hunter Package.

And while you’re there, tune into our four-part video series where the architects and judges share their insights about four themes to come out of this year’s program.

ALEESHA CALLAHAN | EDITOR