Echo House

Echo House reinterprets an existing family home through design principles rooted in Australian modernism. This reverberation of a past architectural style preserves the soul of the home.

A conventional alteration and addition to the home was not possible due to structural integrity and cost issues. The project was therefore designed to complement the qualities of the original home, which was to be rebuilt like-for-like at the ground floor with some enhancement where needed.

A substantial bookshelf delineates the central ground floor area, occupied by a grand piano and staircase. The full-height shelving creates a sense of verticality and enhances the space. Designed to display our client’s treasured books and artefacts.

The second storey is occupied by bedrooms, bathrooms, and a private study with an adjacent terrace. Vertical timber screening elements to the terrace and street allow for filtered light and privacy when needed. Full-height glazing is sheltered below eaves, creating views of surrounding greenery. Finishes carry from interior to exterior, blurring the distinction between inside and out.

Echo House explores light, volume and texture through subtle moments of contrast. The interplay of predominantly light and dark timber, and overlapping roof lines, creates a visual repetition of shapes and forms, reinforcing the design language throughout.

Balancing mid-century principles with contemporary sensibilities, Echo House achieves a renewed architectural rigour. For the family, the result is a home that feels familiar yet entirely reimagined. “When our clients moved in, they said they felt immediately at home, which is rare for a new build,” says Placentino. “They described a sense of calm and familiarity, as though they already knew where everything belonged.”

Architecture by Parabolica.

Build by Imperial Builders.