- Interior
On the lush shore of Clareville Beach in the Northern Beaches of Sydney, this new residence hides behind a green canopy cascading from the rooftop down and growing up from the bottom, blurring the boundary between outside and in. Elements of Brazilian Modernism can be observed in the concrete form with deep drawn-out eaves, voids, and openness. We invite you to join us on this journey!
The firm known as Rama is a vibrant creative design team specializing in architecture and interior design. Their passion is creating timeless architecture through beautiful and functional spaces, providing people with an enhanced sense of well-being. They enjoy exploring various styles of architecture and interior design, from traditional coastal or wooden homes to innovative modern structures, non-residential projects, and everything in between. Their philosophy revolves around the ideologies of simplicity, balance, scale & proportion, and a connection to the landscape. 'Form follows function' is a principle of modernist architecture, embodied in all their work. In short, their architecture performs first on a functional level before seeking an aesthetic solution. Their most recent project, M House, primarily aimed for tranquility and privacy. The essence of being outdoors, experiencing the view while still being sheltered by a formative structure, was central. Here, they played with the concept of hard and soft. Hard is represented in the Brazilian modernist design, embracing concrete, stone, and wood. The soft is exemplified by light, voids, landscape, and glass. Nature and tranquility served as their main inspiration for the interior, where the use of tallowwood battens on the ceiling and walls draws your eyes outward while connecting to the natural elements surrounding the home.
Embracing sensual elements, simplicity, and restraint throughout the design
The team was deliberate with tone and texture to create a mood within the interiors. In contrast to the bright water view, the furniture is dark and moody, with smooth and rich-stained timber veneer and a sleek batten profile concealing finger-pulls. Lloret marble countertops and the gray Marrakesh backsplash connect to the expressed concrete elements of the house. A floating shelf with a copper edge adds a subtle but elegant detail. The kitchen island, bathroom vanities, terrazzo slabs, folded terrazzo basins, bronze tapware, and fine black metal balustrading are solid and sensual elements embracing simplicity and restraint throughout the design. Innovation arises from the volume of the spaces designed by Rama's team. While the materials are tactile and each has its own unique touch and feel, nothing quite matches the scale, volume, and openness in the space. The house doesn't feel overly large due to careful material choice and intentional use of dark tones, but the feeling inside is powerful, connected, and calm. Innovation is also seen in blurring the line between interior and exterior, allowing your eyes, light, and air to freely flow between the structure and the landscape. We are already keeping an eye on them for undoubtedly more impressive projects in the future! Architecture & Interior by Rama
Built by Hampton Constructions
Photography by Anson Smart
Text by Elke Aerts