House Forme by AO Design Studio

ArchiPro Project Summary - House Forme is a contemporary pavilion-style residence in Exeter, featuring a unique design of three pavilions around a central courtyard, emphasizing privacy and openness while integrating sustainable design strategies for comfort and efficiency.

Title:: House Forme
Architect:: AO Design Studio
Category:: Residential/; New Builds
Price range:: $1m - $2m
Building style:: Contemporary
Photographers:: Neil Fenelon

Nestled in the heart of Exeter village, House Forme is a contemporary pavilion-style residence that balances privacy, openness, and a strong connection to its surroundings. The design unfolds as a series of three pavilions, carefully positioned around a private central courtyard that acts as the heart of the home. A defining element of the composition is a recycled brick blade wall that runs through the dwelling, providing a sense of enclosure, shielding the courtyard from the street, and creating a layered journey through the spaces. The house is not just a dwelling but an experience, defined by its axial planning and carefully framed vistas. Every movement through the home is considered, leading the eye along sightlines that reveal moments of nature, light, and texture. These axial relationships establish a rhythm, guiding inhabitants through an interplay of solid and void, compression and release, enclosure and openness. The result is a home that feels both grounded in its rural setting and expansive in its spatial experience.At the core of the design is an emphasis on movement and experience, shaped by a deliberate use of axis and framed views. The home is structured along a primary circulation spine, with key sightlines extending beyond the walls to capture moments of landscape, materiality, and light. The effect is one of discovery, where spaces reveal themselves gradually, and each turn offers a new perspective.This axial approach ensures that the courtyard is not merely an enclosed outdoor space but an integrated part of the home’s spatial experience. It becomes a moment of pause, offering a sense of calm and respite, particularly when viewed from within the living spaces. The positioning of openings along these axes allows for framed views that extend the perception of space, blurring the distinction between inside and outside.House Forme is a study in balance between privacy and openness, contemporary design and rural charm, form and function. It is a home that is deeply connected to its site, shaped by its materiality, and defined by its spatial experience. The integration of sustainable design strategies ensures that it remains comfortable, efficient, and resilient over time.

Architecture: AO Design Studio

Planning: AO Design Studio

Basix Certificate: Application Solutions

Wastewater: Civil and Structural Engineering

Geotechnical Engineer: Civil and Structural Engineering

Structural Engineer: Residential Engineering

Hydraulic Engineer: Residential Engineering

Builder: Birdy Homes

Photography: Neil Fenelon

Project Gallery

Views and Engagement

Professionals used in House Forme

AO Design StudioArchitects

RESIDENTIAL ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS

RESIDENTIAL NEW BUILD

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RESIDENTIAL ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS

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AO Design Studio

Architects

Bowral, New South Wales

aodesignstudio.com.au

AO Design Studio. Here at AO Design Studio, we believe in a humanistic approach in all our design work. We are driven by the people we work with, the places we design for and the program for each building. We are constantly reminded of how deeply interwoven we are with the environment around us, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside, enhancing our connection with nature and maintaining a strong appreciation for the beautiful landscapes we touch. We believe in creating a healthy lifestyle and a healthy planet in the process of our design work. It is in the Australian landscapes that we begin gathering our thoughts, the connection to place, the approach that gives us our first impressions and the surroundings that influence our decisions. We explore all the possibilities that the site has to offer; where do the sunrise and set, where do we need protection from the elements, are we looking to frame a view or capture the entire landscape. All with the idea of creating a building that is settled and harmonises with the surroundings, with spaces that enhance the lives of those that use them. We take a sustainable approach in all our design work. We explore opportunities for passive design through cleverly designed overhangs to control solar access, narrow footprints to allow for natural ventilation and beautiful bright spaces for the occupants. We accurately model all of our designs to test the performance of the building and collaborate with our clients and consultants throughout this process to realise the best design outcome for the project.