Introduction

Located in Sydney’s Bardwell Park, Sole House is a pristine expression of contemporary Australian residential architecture. Designed by 868 Architects in close collaboration with builder Hammercorp, the home stands as a sophisticated addition to the suburban landscape. Defined by its spatial fluidity, tactile materials, and strong indoor-outdoor connections, Sole House embodies both design ambition and construction excellence.

Design Principles Explored

Sole House draws upon foundational principles of modern residential architecture, integrated through a region-specific lens that reflects the Australian suburban context. Key concepts such as layered landscaping, materiality, and passive design come together to form a spatially coherent and sensorially rich residence.

1. Spatial Fluidity

The layout of Sole House supports an uninterrupted flow between key living zones. An open-plan configuration anchors the ground floor, allowing the living room, kitchen, and outdoor entertaining areas to merge seamlessly. This is supported by large-scale glazed openings and linear sightlines, which extend views across different planes and draw the exterior inward.

2. Integration with Nature

A defining element of Sole House is its approach to landscaping. Rather than serving as a visual backdrop, the layered gardens are integrated with the built form. Landscaping transitions gently from private courtyards to lush external gardens, dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior. This technique simultaneously increases privacy and deepens the house’s connection with nature—a staple in contemporary Australian housing.

3. Expressive Materiality

Material selection in Sole House enhances both architectural expression and function. Natural stone—used extensively in the kitchen as benchtops and splashbacks—offers a striking aesthetic while ensuring durability. Timber joinery throughout the home introduces warmth and texture, complementing cool tonal surfaces and reinforcing the sensory experience.

4. Orientation and Natural Light

Key architectural decisions were informed by site orientation. Clerestory windows, skylights, and precisely placed glazing ensure maximum daylight penetration while controlling solar heat gain. These openings transform the interior lighting through the day, bringing out the textures of stone and wood under changing light conditions. This interplay underscores the house’s dynamic relationship with time and atmosphere.

Building Techniques and Technical Specifics

Though conceptually rich, Sole House’s excellence extends into the technical realm. The residence employs sophisticated construction methods and detailing to fulfill its architectural promise.

Structural Framework

While official documentation hasn’t been disclosed, residential construction records and project collaborators strongly suggest a light timber-framed construction, a common methodology in Australian dwellings. This flexible approach allows for open spans and generous fenestrations—critical to the home’s spatial openness. The inclusion of AE Consulting Engineers signals rigorous structural oversight and load management in areas with expansive glazing and open space.

Interior Detailing

High-quality craftsmanship is on display throughout the interiors. Kitchen benches feature boldly veined natural stone, further emphasized with integrated lighting and minimalist cabinetry. Timber joinery conceals storage and services, ensuring a clutter-free visual experience. Flush thresholds between interior and exterior zones reinforce spatial continuity and speak to thoughtful detailing during the build phase.

Sustainability Considerations

While Sole House does not market itself explicitly as a “green home,” there are multiple embedded sustainability aspects:

• Passive Design: Optimization of solar orientation, minimizing thermal bridges.
• Low-impact Materials: Use of natural stone, sustainably sourced timber, and minimal synthetic composites.
• Landscape synergy: Vegetated areas promote on-site water absorption, reduce heat-island effect, and support local ecology.

Historical and Regional Context

Sole House is part of a storied tradition in Australian residential architecture that spans mid-century experimentation to modernist Minimalism. Three themes are historically consistent:

1. Indoor-Outdoor Living

Since the post-war period, Australian architects have embraced outdoor living as an extension of domestic space. Projects like Robin Boyd’s Walsh Street House and Glenn Murcutt’s various pavilions have championed seamless transitions between interior and exterior—tropes which Sole House extends with layered landscaping and open flows.

2. Expressive Material Application

Australian architecture has long favored materials that age gracefully and reflect the natural surroundings. Sole House’s confident use of stone, timber, and glass aligns it with this ethos, while remaining distinctly contemporary in execution.

3. Flexible Living Spaces

In response to a dynamic climate and evolving family structures, Australian homes often feature reprogrammable spaces. The open-plan configuration of Sole House fosters multipurpose living—where entertaining, working, and relaxing can comfortably coexist in hybrid zones.

Comparative Residential Case Studies

To better understand Sole House’s architectural character, it is useful to compare it with other benchmark projects from Australia and abroad:

Sole House in Global Architectural Discourse

While Sole House is deeply rooted in Australian traditions, it resonates with global trends in residential design:

North America

Projects like the Case Study Houses in California explored open plans and indoor-outdoor transitions similar to Sole House. However, Sole House distinguishes itself through its tropical landscaping and finer material textures, adapted for Sydney’s unique suburban character.

Europe

In Scandinavian homes, such as those by Claesson Koivisto Rune or Lundgaard & Tranberg, natural materials and daylighting also play central roles. However, these are often within denser urban fabrics. Sole House benefits from more generous suburban allotments, enabling landscape gestures that are more spatially ambitious.

Australian Signature

Ultimately, Sole House’s defining Pythonality is its sensitive landscaping, climatic responsiveness, and an understated luxury that prioritizes long-term livability over excess formalism.

Educational Takeaways for Architects and Homeowners

Sole House provides more than inspiration—it offers implementable lessons for those pursuing home design or construction projects alike.

• Design for Climate and Context: Prioritize site orientation, materials that thrive in your climate, and connections to outdoor spaces.
• Invest in Craftsmanship: High-quality finishes, detailing, and construction offer long-term value—consider allocating budget to key elements visible and functional daily.
• Build for Spatial Adaptability: Open-plan configurations are not only on-trend—they offer real flexibility for families, entertaining, or future reconfiguration.
• Landscape as a Design Tool: Instead of treating gardens as afterthoughts, integrate landscaping into the earliest design stages for thermal comfort, privacy, and beauty.

Conclusion

Sole House by 868 Architects and Hammercorp is both a reflection and progression of Australian residential architecture. Through its deliberate orientation, layered landscaping, evocative material choices, and graceful spatial transitions, it creates a home that is not just lived in—but fully experienced. For architects, builders, and homeowners, this residence offers an aspirational model: one that balances functional rigor with poetic design execution.