Sited on a rectangular suburban block – and surrounded by mature trees – the design for this new two-storey family home in Swanbourne incorporates indoor-outdoor connections that add visual interest and delight to the experience of living there.

The L-shaped plan makes the most of the northern orientation to the rear, for passive solar design.

There is a high degree of transparency between the ground and first floors, and from both floors to the sky, thanks to the inclusion of high-level windows throughout the house.

Carefully positioned skylights create visual connections between the living room and adjacent swimming pool, through to the main bedroom and upper terrace. This private terrace sits at tree canopy height, giving the impression of being elevated in a secluded treehouse.

The four children’s bedrooms are zoned separately from the parents’ retreat, and they each benefit from northern light and enjoy outlooks to the sky above.

Downstairs, the kitchen, living and dining area opens to a steel-framed entertaining patio with fireplace, providing an outdoor destination that can be used throughout the year. The surrounding landscaped garden is complemented with a swimming pool which terminates the view through the house.

With its generous floor plan and flexible spaces that can be used in a variety of ways as the occupants’ needs change, this house provides an ideal backdrop for an evolving family.