The Shutter House is a very interesting and unusual building for several reasons. For example, it’s a house located in Wembley, Australia and the local architecture and traditions played an important role in its overall design but at the same time the project has been heavy influences by Japanese architecture. Studios Mobilia and State of Kin worked together to blend these styles together and to create something unique that manages to fit into the local context and that doesn’t look forced or out of place.

The topography of the site directly influenced the house’s layered floor plan designThe front of the house which is facing the street large these huge panels which can be opened up and closed as neededThe house’s secondary skin is made of these thin timber slats and doubles as shuttersThe interior of the house has a contemporary look and feel, with lots of vibrant accent colors

The main idea behind the project was to create a distinctive house with a design that’s adapted to the topography and makes use of local materials. The house also puts a lot of emphasis on the authenticity and natural beauty of the materials used in its design. At the core it has a durable concrete structure which has been wrapped in a secondary skin made of timber.

This is how the front of the house looks like when the facade is closed

The street-facing facade is the most interesting one because it can be opened and closed. This allows the inhabitants to control the level of privacy and intimacy inside the house as well as the amount of light that gets in. At the same time this operable facade controls the way in which the house interacts with its surroundings in a cool and unique way.

When the front facade opens up the areas inside get unobstructed views of the beautiful surrounding areaThe back of the house is linked to a backyard with a swimming pool and a big open deckThis is the staircase which connects all the floors internallyThe designers used a variety of vivid colors and rich textures to add a dynamic feel to the interiorThe Japanese influences are reflected in the authenticity of the materials and the flexibility of the interior spacesBold splashes of color and eye-catching artwork and decorations make each room feel unique and specialThe lack of a wall-mounted TV gives this bedroom a very serene and relaxing vibeThe raw concrete ceiling in the bedrooms is another detail borrowed from Japanese architectureThe colored ceiling and stylish wall mirror complement the monochrome look of this bathroom