Dharawal people
New South Wales
Located one hour south of Sydney, the OK House is a compact, inward-looking home designed as a refuge rather than a statement. Conceived for two introverted occupants, the house turns away from ocean views and instead engages the sky, escarpment and surrounding tree canopy, offering privacy without isolation and a strong connection to nature.
Set on a steep, triangular site constrained by bushfire risk, unstable geology and a nearby railway, the house is elevated on four deep piers; sitting clear of the slope and preserving the terrain and existing trees. A central courtyard forms the heart of the plan, bringing daylight, ventilation and seasonal adaptability to every room.
Designed and built by the architect as owner-builder, the project integrates prefabrication, modest materials and passive design strategies to achieve high performance within a tight budget. Sustainability and restraint underpin the project, demonstrating how domestic architecture can support resilience and quiet joy.
Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
OK house deftly responds to its steep, irregular, remnant site next to a railway line, creating a compact, joyful, sustainable and bushfire resilient home. Cantilevered from 4 piles and clad with fibre cement sheet, punctuated by generous recycled hardwood windows, OK house, sits comfortably within the seaside village, and allows site regeneration, including retention of existing mature trees. Walls, floors and roofs were pre-fabricated for easy, site assembly. The courtyard, located at the heart, is designed as an outdoor room, protected from noise and overlooking neighbours and supporting seamless, year-long indoor-outdoor living, solar access and framed views to surrounding nature and sky. The house’s rich, sensitive use of colour for floors and furniture, coupled with adjustable elements such as the courtyard walls and kitchen storage brings a casual, playful quality, inviting engagement and supporting wellbeing. Ok House invites us to celebrate how thoughtful design can transcend constraints, to reimagine the 3-bedroom home.
Award for Residential Architecture - Houses (New)
OK house deftly responds to its steep, irregular, remnant site next to a railway line, creating a compact, joyful, sustainable and bushfire resilient home. Cantilevered from 4 piles and clad with fibre cement sheet, punctuated by generous recycled hardwood windows, OK house, sits comfortably within the seaside village, and allows site regeneration, including retention of existing mature trees. Walls, floors and roofs were pre-fabricated for easy, site assembly. The courtyard, located at the heart, is designed as an outdoor room, protected from noise and overlooking neighbours and supporting seamless, year-long indoor-outdoor living, solar access and framed views to surrounding nature and sky. The house’s rich, sensitive use of colour for floors and furniture, coupled with adjustable elements such as the courtyard walls and kitchen storage brings a casual, playful quality, inviting engagement and supporting wellbeing. Ok House invites us to celebrate how thoughtful design can transcend constraints, to reimagine the 3-bedroom home.
Mathieu Ravier (partner of Stephen Collier)
The house was designed for the architect and me, his partner. The project itself gave us purpose and focus at a time when mental health issues and stress loomed over our lives. Now that we live here, these benefits endure. The OK House is designed with colour and light to let foliage and sky in and keep the world out. Its bright and playful layout, native garden and private courtyard combine to lift the spirits of those who live here or just pass through.