The Ridgeway transforms a narrow site into a playful, sustainable sanctuary, celebrating the adventurous spirit of a young family and their daily rituals.

The design brief sought to maximise the experience of a constrained footprint, envisioning a home where productive gardens and sustainable principles form the foundation of daily life. Designed for a young couple and their two cats, the house is a collection of spaces that expertly balances grandeur with intimacy.

Driven by a deep love for great food and coffee, the kitchen anchors the plan. This culinary focus extends into a spectacular double-height void housing the main dining area—a grand, light-filled volume designed for celebrating with family and friends. In contrast to these expansive social zones, the plan is dotted with comfortable nooks, perches, and courtyards, offering quiet moments to relax with a coffee and the morning paper.

Reflecting the clients' adventurous lives, the interiors — developed in collaboration withSarah Trotter of Hearth Studio — embrace a spirit of play. Robust materials like concrete, Victorian Ash, and textured OSB wall panelling provide a tactile backdrop, while distinct zones are defined by bold colour blocking. Bathrooms feature green, yellow, red, and orange square-format tiles, giving each space its own unique personality while maintaining a cohesive thread throughout the home.

True to Archier's ethos, the home celebrates structure rather than concealing it. We utilised MASSLAM timber as a primary visual element, championing the honesty and inherent beauty of the structural core. We favour feature-grade timber for its veins, knots, and variations, adding a warmth and texture that concrete or stone simply cannot match. By distilling the architecture down to these essential elements, The Ridgeway achieves a simple, beautiful outcome that feels both innovative and deeply grounded.