The Australian Lifestyle: The Best of Indoor–Outdoor Living

Whether you live in the midst of the city, on the coast or in the countryside, the chance to spend time outdoors is quintessential to the Australian lifestyle. If you’re looking to bring the outside in, here are four projects that use bricks to create highly functional spaces of interior and exterior living.

Beverly Hills by Those Architects

Those Architects sought to optimise light and airflow using Bowral Bricks Bowral 76 in Chillingham White. This brick feature ensures the home is protected from the elements, whilst still maintaining a breezy, open design. The integration between indoors and out inspires a connection with the outdoors, in particular the low-maintenance courtyard; the perfect space for reprieve and reflection. With floor to ceiling windows in the downstairs space, the vista is reminiscent of a traditional Japanese courtyard. The single tree and shrubbery encompassing the courtyard on the far side offers hassle-free landscaping yet maintains a connectivity with nature. Moreover, the interior timber flooring seamlessly melds with the exterior with its lime-washed finish to match the smooth, white pebbles, and cool, porcelain tone of the Chillingham White bricks.

Buderim House by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture

Buderim House provides residents with direct access to the outdoors, deeply immersing them within the unobstructed views of the coast and abundance of natural light. As such, the house showcases a beautiful narrative between the indoor and outdoor experiences, celebrating the simplicity of daily life in an elegant and thoughtful residence that directly responds to its unique geographic location. The architects have utilised the silvery-grey hues of the Bowral Bricks Bowral 76 in Simmental Silver both internally and externally. The robust and timeless material creates a minimal yet engaging backdrop for the inhabitant’s lifestyles.

“In using GB Masonry Breeze Blocks in Wedge Breeze both internally and externally, the divided spaces become connected by the flecks of light, ventilation and visual glimpses allowed by their materiality.”

Sunday by Architecture architecture

A stand-out design feature of the build is its expansive open-air courtyard. Despite being in a dense, suburban neighbourhood, residents are endlessly connected to the outdoors and use this courtyard as a main thoroughfare throughout the day. In using GB Masonry Breeze Blocks in Wedge Breeze both internally and externally, the divided spaces become connected by the flecks of light, ventilation and visual glimpses allowed by their materiality.

Point Leo by Pleysier Perkins

Pleysier Perkins honours the bush and coastal elements of Point Leo’s peaceful location by sustaining a deep connection with the natural surroundings. Placing the pool at the heart of the site creates an omnipresence of water that grounds the home in its beachside environment. Alongside the central pool is an outdoor entertaining area, spa and curved shower that acts as a continuity of the house’s starring material feature – brick. Choosing Bowral Bricks Bowral 76 in Chillingham White to line both the external and internal walls creates a free-flowing space that champions brick while letting the remainder of the material palette breathe. Deeply residential yet possessing the durability required for family-living, the light, warm and matte colourway casts delicate shadows over the interiors as the sun cascades over them. GB Masonry Flower Breeze Blocks in Porcelain also extend from the indoor garage area, spanning across the outdoor areas for added privacy, natural ventilation and light.