A remarkable family residence in Melbourne has redefined the relationship between architecture and landscape design, creating a living canvas where built structures and natural elements merge seamlessly. The innovative home, called Hedge and Arbour, was designed by Studio Bright and represents a groundbreaking approach to suburban architecture that celebrates the intimate connection between human habitation and the natural environment.
Situated in a leafy Melbourne suburb, the property occupies a unique position that maximized its potential for landscape integration. The rear of the home borders a dense stretch of native bushland with a creek running below, while the front facade is concealed behind a tall sculptural hedge that blends harmoniously with the classical suburban streetscape. This striking juxtaposition, combined with the homeowners' passionate interest in both gardening and modernist architecture, inspired Studio Bright's principal and design director Mel Bright to conceptualize the house as a foundation for immersive landscaping experiences.
The design philosophy centers around creating layered spatial experiences that provide privacy while maintaining connection to nature. "We borrowed from the success of the hedge wall to insert layers arraying in plan, delineating space and mediating privacy through two built mechanisms – a garden wall and arbour," explains Mel Bright. The first layer consists of robust blockwork walls that form an unconventional partition at the entrance, their stark architectural lines softened by the wild, organic appearance of a native garden designed by Sarah Hicks of Emergent Studios.
The second architectural layer features a delicate mesh screen system that creates an arbour structure with integrated plantings, effectively enveloping the cement-sheet clad house in ever-changing greenery throughout the seasons. This exterior mesh serves a dual purpose, functioning as both an aesthetic element and a practical climbing frame for deciduous vines. "The exterior mesh doubles as a climbing frame for deciduous vines, forming an integrated shading system that admits winter sunlight deep into the interior, while shielding occupants from harsh summer heat," Bright notes.
Rather than treating the garden as merely ornamental or as a separate design element, the architects conceived it as a natural continuation of the surrounding bushland reserve. This approach creates a sequence of interconnected landscape rooms that effectively dissolve the traditional boundary between suburban development and the natural escarpment. The result is a home that feels organically embedded within its natural context rather than imposed upon it.
The interior layout was carefully planned according to passive design principles that maximize natural sunlight and ventilation throughout the home. Central living spaces stretch across the center of the property, opening directly to the front gardens and providing views of the traditional lawn that overlooks the rear parklands. The more private areas, including bedrooms, bathroom, and study, are efficiently organized within a perpendicular wing that maintains the home's connection to outdoor spaces while providing necessary privacy.
The interior design reflects a commitment to creating calm, sun-filled spaces that complement the natural surroundings. A carefully curated palette of blackbutt timber joinery, charcoal paint, and polished concrete floors characterizes the serene interiors. All materials were specifically selected to ensure the property would be both durable and relatively low-maintenance, deliberately shifting focus toward the gardens and natural elements at every opportunity.
According to Bright, both her design team and the clients take pride in how successfully the home responds to its surrounding context and celebrates the changing seasons. The house serves as a living testament to sustainable design, marked by the evolving colors of the climbing vines and the immersive quality of the integrated gardens. "It's always evolving," Bright observes, highlighting how the home continues to transform and mature alongside its natural elements, creating an ever-changing relationship between architecture and landscape that will develop for years to come.
