MAHOGANY HOUSE

Nestled near the tranquil Scotchman’s Creek reserve, Mahogany House is a seamless extension of its surroundings. Designed with deep integration of landscape both inside and out, the house offers a serene living experience.
Three existing mature trees on-site shape the architecture, guiding a curated floor plan that respects their presence and optimises site orientation. These trees are not just preserved but celebrated—they occupy the foreground along street front and pool courtyard frames Mahogany as focal point, creating ever-changing views throughout the home. The interiors feel alive with nature, as dappled light filters through swaying branches, casting playful shadows on internal facades. Reflections of water across surfaces, further enhancing the home’s dynamic connecion to its environment.
This thoughtful interplay between built form and landscape fosters a sense of peace, grounding its inhabitants in a space where architecture and nature coexist in balance.
Being a multi-generational home, Mahogany House relies on its acceptance by all 3 generations that inhibit the house. While the children were excited, having witnessed the house through design and construction phases, they were keen to know what their grandparents felt about the house. When the owners’ parents arrived, they loved the view out the entry lobby overlooking pool courtyard and Mahogany tree. Their first words were “from here I can enjoy all forms of nature from one place- the land, the tree, the water and the sky”
Retention and Celebration of Existing Trees
The mahogany tree, as the centerpiece of the home, influences the layout and orientation of the spaces, ensuring visual and physical connectivity to nature. The other two preserved trees provide natural shading, reducing heat gain and enhancing microclimate conditions around the home. Open courtyards, framed views, and transitional indoor-outdoor spaces ensure that nature remains a constant presence in daily life.
The plan for the new home is curated to preserve the roots of three existing mature trees on the site including a liquid amber tree and a silver birch at the front and a magnificent mahogany to the rear. The elements within the plan are oriented to maximise the visual and physical connections with central courtyard and the mahogany tree, which has defined the central axis of the house including the central courtyard at entry.
Project’s commitment to sustainability is anchored by right-sizing the house to provide enough space whilst avoiding wastefulness. Integral to the design are application of Passivhaus Design principles for dwellings and use of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) instead of conventional timber frame; making the house airtight and eco-conscious, offering a comfortable and energy-efficient living environment.
The exterior is clad in terracotta shingles, locally made in Melbourne, an unusual application for this material and part of the project strategy to seek out options that suit the budget.
The interiors showcase biophilia and designed to accommodate and integrate owners’ large collection of indoor plants, blurring the boundary between inside and out. The use of colour is a defining feature of this home. The green and plywood joinery evoke a natural connection, blending seamlessly with the outdoor environment, with bold colours applied sparingly for visual interest.
The central pool courtyard offers internal views enhancing connection to natural elements such as land, sky, water and foliage whilst passively watching for the grandparents in their pod, at this multigenerational Home.
Sustainable Materials and Passive Design for a Natural Sensory Experience:
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) improve air-tightness and energy efficiency, reducing reliance on artificial heating and cooling, while maintaining thermal comfort. Passivhaus principles ensure natural daylighting and optimised ventilation, creating a living environment that responds dynamically to seasonal changes. Locally made terracotta cladding brings an earthy, tactile quality that resonates with the natural surroundings, complementing the texture and colour of the foliage. Metal accents provide a refined contrast, echoing the interplay between organic and industrial materials while harmonising with the tree canopy.
Integration of Natural Light and Ventilation:
Large operable windows and strategically placed openings maximise cross-ventilation, allowing abundant natural light to filter through, whilst passively heating and cooling the house and reducing the need for artificial sources. Noth-facing central courtyard and east-facing void channels daylight deeper into the spaces, mimicking the natural rhythms of sunlight and promoting circadian well-being. Indoor spaces are arranged to offer layered visual connections to greenery, ensuring that nature is always within sight, whether through framed vistas, dappled light filtering through the trees or pool water reflecting across the surfaces.
Multi-Sensory Engagement with Nature:
Textured materials, such as terracotta and timber, provide a tactile connection to nature. Permeable landscaping encourages natural cooling through evaporative effects. The sound of rustling leaves and birdsong, amplified by the proximity of preserved trees, enhances the auditory experience within the home.
Functional Outdoor Living Spaces:
Central courtyard placed between grandparents’ pod and family pod, along with north-facing garden blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, encouraging intergenerational gathering and interaction with nature. The landscape is designed with native plantings to support local biodiversity and pollinators, reinforcing an ecological balance. Terracotta shingles await weathering with moss and lichens growing over, taking inspiration from the natural phenomena that “nothing is permanent”. By weaving biophilic design principles with passive energy strategies, this multi-generational home becomes more than just a residence—it fosters a harmonious relationship with nature, supporting well-being, sustainability, and a sense of place.
The house consists of two pods separated by a focal courtyard, which features a swimming pool. A double storey main living pod sits to the west and a single storey grandparents’ pod sits to the east. The two pods are connected by a central entrance and lounge space, which reveals a surprise view into the central courtyard upon entering.
Mahogany House, embodies a profound connection to its environment, seamlessly integrating the residence with its natural surroundings. Situated near Scotchmans Creek and its adjacent natural reserve, the home's design thoughtfully preserves three mature trees on the property: a liquid amber and silver birch at the front, and a majestic mahogany tree at the rear, which serves as the central focal point. The floor plan is meticulously crafted to harmonise with the trees' locations and the site's orientation, ensuring that internal views open onto courtyards where these trees take centre stage. This arrangement not only enhances the visual appeal but also invites a dynamic interplay of light and shadow within the interiors, as the trees' movements and water reflections animate the façades. External cladding of locally made terracotta shingles has a sense of belonging to this place, balancing beautifully with the tree foliage.
The result is a serene living experience that blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, fostering a deep sense of place and tranquility.
Key Design Features
Integrated landscape design – Mahogany House demonstrates how architecture can harmoniously coexist with mature trees and natural surroundings.
Sustainable site planning – The project is a great example of preserving existing vegetation and working with site orientation to improve livability.
Materiality – Use of natural materials fosters a sensory connection to the environment, reinforcing biophilic principles.
Indoor-Outdoor synergy – Courtyards and large openings create seamless transitions, blurring the line between built space and nature.
Light and shadow play – The design captures tactile and sensory play of dappled natural light, tree movement and shimmering pool water, enhancing the living experience.
Well-being through nature – Oriented window seats and curated views immerse occupants of this multi-generational home in greenery, promoting relaxation and connection to place.
Suburban living – The project sets a precedent for integrating biophilic principles in suburban residential design.
Design discourse – As a case study, the house adds to the broader conversation on rightsizing, passive design principles and biophilic architecture.