They say a house is made up of brick, cement, stone, and wood, while a home is a place made of experiences, memories, and a feeling of belongingness. All around the world, there is a wide difference in the lifestyles that people adapt to, and home plays the biggest part in shaping someone’s definition of livability. Every individual has an interestingly different set of wants and desires, and every space has a character of its own. Architecture has the power to make an experience of a person in a space better through its design and construction techniques.
With multiple awards in the field, the firm: “Zaher architects” with its office in Byron bay, which is a coastal town in the southeastern Australian state of New South Wales, brings you a set of alluring designs with highly aesthetic features and functional aspects. This firm focuses on ecologically responsible architecture with its project aimed to connect to the breathtakingly beautiful landforms of the Australian coast. Here is a detailed description of the few marked projects by Zaher Architects.
Projects:
1. Coopers Shoot residence:
Site location: Coopers Shoot, Byron Bay, Australia
Year of construction: 2019
Keywords: scenic, contemporary, ridgetop
The Coopers Shoot Residence rests overlooking the rolling hinterlands of Byron Bay, in Australia’s scenic Northern Rivers Region. The structural elements of the design offer it a rich monumental look. With an elegant ridgetop site, this residence features a contemporary style that caters to adequate lighting conditions in all the habitable spaces. Equipped with a rooftop garden and wide glass windows offering expansive views. The linear form of the residence says it is all about the simplicity of everyday living.
2. Fig Tree house:
Site location: Newrybar, Byron Bay, Australia
Year of construction: 2020
Keywords: seamless, transparent, vistas.
In a humid subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters, this property’s client wanted to design a house that captured the beauty of the landscape, as well as to develop a connection with the surroundings even in a gusty & harsh season. Adhering to the brief, the firm came up with well-designed front and back spaces of the house that feel transparent and seamlessly connected. On beautiful days, the owners can sit on the eastern side of the house and look out over the ocean and the landscape. When it is windy, they can sit on the western side by the pool and bathe in the sun while being sheltered from the wind. Absolutely no compromise in gathering vistas from indoors has been kept a foremost priority by the architect.
3. Staghorn house:
Site location: staghorn, Byron Bay, Australia
Year of construction: 2016
Keywords: vision, dwelling, ornamental.
A young builder had the vision to complete his project with a moderate budget. Zaher Architects transformed the basic original dwelling into a bungalow-style home and studio combination with an appealing provincial look. The brief was to make a small space feel bigger within the provided contextual conditions. With an irregularly-shaped block, the property went from having one house to a house and studio and then to a house, studio and pool. With light pine wood textured interior and calming colour shade, the house feels bright in appearance, secure and functional without much ornamental experimentation with the interior design.
4. Binna Burra residence (a renovation project):
Site location: hinterlands of Byron Bay
Year of construction: 2019
Keywords: subtropical, colonnade, embrace
This north-facing property existing amidst mature trees, cooling lawns, and subtropical landscaping, was undertaken as a renovation project by the firm. With proper study, the firm came up with a dramatic entry design for the site consisting of a rhythmic timber portal frame making an impressive colonnade. With the addition of a wooden ceiling and lush green spaces to the existing stone floored structure overlooking the pool, the design embraces the history and memories of the original building, also transferring a rustic touch to the overall feel of the space.
5. Fernleigh residence(renovation):
Site location: Fernleigh, Byron Bay
Year of construction: 2013
Keywords: aura, vibrant.
Fernleigh residence stands firm at Fernleigh, Byron bay overtaken by Zaher architects to renovate it to a newly formed aura with a sense of modernity in spaces and variety in the existing spaces. The architects took the good opportunity to convert the home into a vibrant well- lit piece of the household. A limited no. of materials with white backgrounds can be seen that adhere to the requirement of the occupant to keep the home just how it was meant to be. The mature trees present at the frontal part of the residence overlooking the swimming pool provide shade and frame the outdoor entertainment area, ensuring users are part of the action.
6. Wicket Hill residence (Renovation):
Site location: wicket hill, Byron Bay
Year of construction: 2018
Keywords: harmony, neutral, minimal
The Wicket Hill house renovation project yielded many delights, including a playful hidden wing accessible through a moveable bookshelf. By looking at the interiors of the house, one can see the harmony that is maintained between the new and old home. The users of the residence wanted to retain as much of the old home as possible while making the space work for a large family and frequent visitors. The old rustic stone touch of the grey flooring is in complete harmony with the other neutral shades of the home. As a part of a bigger landscape, the frontal part comprises a wide open area accessible through the insides as well as from the surrounding landscape region. These minimal features of design create a picturesque scenic beauty to be captured and experienced in its totality.
7. Wategos residence
Site location: Wategos beach, Byron Bay
Year of construction: 2015
Keywords: cozy, sustainability, facade
Located in the beachside suburb this residence was a collaboration between client and architect, where both parties were aligned in their vision. A two-storeyed home with a big outdoor garden beside the small and cozy poolside gathers points on sustainability. This modern house stands boldly on the site, with the overarching concrete form wrapping around the entire beach façade before opening up to the view and beach. This house has been prepared to withstand the harsh climatic conditions of Australia with minimal maintenance. The maximum used areas of living, drawing, and kitchen ask for the occupant’s attention and are a beautiful space to be in at all times of the day.
8. Coorabell residence:
Site location: Coorabell, Byron Bay
Year of construction: 2015
Keywords: panoramic, transparency
This residence includes a set of features such as solar farming; water collection; Low e-glass and double-glazed windows. This house Is in the form of two outdoor decks and a sheltered courtyard.
Most of the areas are open to the gardens and gather interesting views, the front door welcomes the visitor with a set of steps to the outdoor verandah that gives a panoramic view of the landscape, ocean, and hills. the unique s-shaped pathway formed parallel to the pool’s shape makes the property a piece of art. There is enhanced transparency between the indoor and outdoor spaces by keeping only the private parts of the house hidden and secured. the building rests like a deck on the harbor and relates to the other design styles of the unique architecture of Australian homes.
9. Newrybar residence:
Site location: Newrybar, Byron Bay,
Year of construction: 2019
Keywords: the Mediterranean, prevailing
The eco-friendly design maximizes the views and cleverly uses the prevailing winds of the Byron Bay Hinterlands so the home can work with nature and apply sustainability principles, outdoor living spaces were high on the list of priorities for this house in Newrybar. There is a generous undercover outdoor area, giving the home a second living room with a Mediterranean summer feel.
10. Federal residence.
Site location: Federal, Byron Bay
Year of construction: 2020
Keywords: the Mediterranean, prevailing
This property celebrates modernist architecture in the provincial Australian landscape providing an impressive contrast between nature and man-made forms. The completed home is a black and white box with interwoven geometrical shapes. A large stone wall divides the public entry from the private zone and pool, while also providing a wayfinding device that leads people to a large custom-made feature entry door that appears to float in its alcove. To complement the sculptural feel of the house, some of the furniture was itself designed by Zaher Architects.
