Bringing it back to basics: The quintessential verandah house
Image: Architect Stutchbury and Pape’s Treetop House,
photography by © Michael Nicholson
The verandah house is an icon of Australian design, and it's no wonder why. These homes are simple yet stylish, and they offer a relaxed way of living that is perfect for our climate. Whether you're looking to renovate your home or build a new one from scratch, a verandah house could be the perfect option for you. Here's everything you need to know about these quintessential Australian homes.
The verandah house is a classic design that's never gone out of style. It's the traditional Australian home and its basic principles can be brought into the realm of the modern home.
When did our suburbs disappear behind a wall of site-specific, luxury homes? Where once was a sense of the traditional, verandah-clad Australia has now been replaced with McMansions of disconnected practicality. We can re-address this design disconnect and bring the classic verandah house back into modern suburbia. By embracing site-specific passive design principles, we can utilize the strengths of construction for each unique site, creating beautiful homes that are uniquely regional, whilst celebrating planet-friendly practices that reflect our Australian identity. A luxurious home doesn't have to be disconnected from nature and tradition - why not pioneer ecological living through your own site-specific verandah house?
The traditional verandah home was sustainable and climate-specific, providing essential shading in summer and protection for our love of outdoor living. Think big eaves, site-specific orientation and lots of natural ventilation!
The traditional verandah home drew its design principles from a smart and ancient understanding of how to live with the climate - shading out the heat, making use of breezes and opening windows when it was cooler. These principles translate more broadly than just aesthetics - they make way for an elegant reinterpretation of what sustainability looks like and how we engage with nature within our living spaces. To look at a traditional verandah home is to meet history, reconnecting us to a long-standing effort in building relationships between place, people and climate. The big eaves, careful site orientation and light-filled interiors pay homage to our enduring love for the outdoors.
The beauty of the verandah house lies in its simplicity, both in design and function. The basic architecture utilizes widely set eaves, windows and an open-air porch to allow natural light, ventilation and comfort without relying on complex engineering or expensive features. This makes the verandah house not only aesthetically pleasing but also economical to build and maintain. With careful planning, this classic house style can be your picture of a perfect home — comfortable, easy to care for and fit for a lifetime of habitation.
Image: Architects Cooper & Blake, Munday in the Hamptons project.
Photography by Supreme Digital Media
The traditional vernacular can be modernised and personalised to suit the architectural aesthetic you envisage.
Building a home is an exciting journey. By embracing the traditional verandah house design principles, you set out on a path to build your dream home that isn’t just aesthetically pleasing but energy efficient too. Capturing the natural breeze and allowing for temperature control, these design principles provide an opportunity to modernise and personalise your traditional vernacular. With creative ideas, thoughtful detailing and expertise, you can transform your vision into reality while allowing the old-world charm of verandah house design to shine through in unexpected ways.
When it comes to adding a modern twist to the traditional verandah house, several unique design tips can be implemented. By blending modern materials with traditional building techniques, taking advantage of thin roof profiles and selecting special design solutions for guttering and downpipes, gaining the perfect window solutions to bring in the most amount of natural light, and creating courtyard spaces for entertaining - the possibilities of transforming a classic building style into something new is endless. Furthermore, designers can bring their flair and creativity when it comes to remodelling an old verandah house - which allows each renovation project its unique look.
There's something about a verandah house that captures the imagination. Perhaps it's the promise of lazy summer days spent lounging in the shade with a good book, or cosy winter nights huddled around the outdoor fire pit with friends. Whatever the reason, verandah houses have enduring appeal for Australian homebuyers. If you're considering building a new home, take a closer look at this classic design. You might be surprised by how well it meets your needs!
If you need help getting started, our team offers Pre Design services to turn your vision into reality. Contact us today for a free consultation and let's get started on making your dream home a reality.
