03/09/2026
A first look inside our Hawthorn Residence, where the milk-coffee toned limestone is not conceived simply as an external skin, but as a material that continues into the interior, reinforcing the sense that the building has been carved from a single mass of stone.
Each material is selected with purpose. The limestone gives the architecture its weight and permanence, while a restrained palette of oak, cedar and Douglas fir introduces warmth and softness to the internal spaces. Rather than relying on applied finishes or decorative paintwork, the home draws its character from the inherent colour, grain and texture of the materials themselves.
In key spaces, what appears at first to be a continuation of the external profiled stone used on the ceiling is instead formed from linen panels, only revealed at night when their subtle texture diffuses the light, producing an even, inviting glow across the room.
The scale of the home has nearly civic proportions, making the layer of soft furnishing especially important for fostering a sense of intimacy. Custom-designed linen curtains, composed in varying weaves and natural tones, add another layer of softness and depth, creating a home that is restrained in its material expression, yet immersive, warm and distinctly its own.
The Hawthorn Residence is a concept design currently in development in the studio. The project is an exploration of a single stone, applied with intention. The design also navigates an existing 15m Chinese elm, retained on site and framing the home’s view toward the city.
B.E. Architecture B.E. Architecture Byron Bay
