Obsidian House is an elegant and contemporary approach to residential architecture. Moving from a rigid, compartmentalized home, the clients sought a bright and open interior. Developed through a close collaboration with the clients, the home embodies a sense of quiet luxury, emphasizing spacious interiors that connect with the surrounding natural environment. Varied ceiling heights, organic geometries, carefully controlled daylighting, and a select material palette work to curate a home that is both refined and highly functional.
The kitchen island anchors the home, serving as the social heart of the open-plan interior while naturally drawing family and guests together. Wrapped in delicately honed Cristallo quartzite and softly backlit, the sculptural centrepiece reveals the stone’s natural translucency, illuminating its depth and veining from within. The gentle glow lends warmth and presence to the heart of the home. Complementing this refined material palette, the wood-clad garage door is seamlessly integrated into the façade, preserving its composed aesthetic while adding warmth, texture, and material continuity to the streetscape.
Rather than using a conventional brick façade, the exterior was transformed into an active design element. By designing a custom brick pattern, the changing angle of the sun was captured, allowing light and shadow to animate the home throughout the day. The dynamic effects of the masonry were controlled through depth, rhythm, and mortar joints, reinforcing its relationship with nature through the constant movement of light across its façade. The dark obsidian brick is balanced by expansive glazed walls and fine, keyhole windows that admit natural light while maintaining privacy.
The exterior materials seamlessly transition inside the home, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior. The massing responds to the building’s low, elongated form, creating a grounded and approachable presence from the street. At the centre of the home however, the living room opens dramatically revealing a double-height ceiling, and light well that channels daylight deep into the main floor and the basement. The open floor plan, combined with the exposed lower level, creates a layered spatial experience where both levels are realized simultaneously, amplifying the home’s sense of openness and connection.
Architecture: Secter Architecture + Design
Interiors: Secter Architecture + Design
Builder: Harris Builders
Engineer: Wolfrom Engineering
Photography: Lindsay Reid
