"Summer living personified in this inverted Bondi Beach house, which evokes a cozy treehouse feel."
A Modern Urban Oasis in Bondi: Kirsten Zaki's Family Home
In the heart of Bondi, Australia, a modern home designed by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects stands as an "urban oasis." This sun-drenched new-build, inhabited by Kirsten Zaki, her husband, and their three teenage daughters for three years, is a testament to the seamless blend of modernist principles and a warm, inviting atmosphere.
The home's materiality and finishes, such as flooded-gum doors and windows, complex brick patterns, and innovative concrete finishes, create a unique, character-rich environment. The extensive use of timber softens the concrete ceilings, while the sculptural concrete staircase and bold deep-blue marble kitchen island add a touch of contemporary elegance.
The spatial design of the home offers flexible zones that balance communal family time with areas for solitude, supporting both openness and privacy. The open-plan kitchen, dining, and lounge areas are interconnected, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness. The home's living areas are located on the first floor, while all four bedrooms are on the ground floor, providing ample space for everyone.
Artworks are strategically placed throughout the home, adding color and reflecting the family's shared values. Kirsten's creative flair is evident in the home's design, with statement furniture pieces and an eclectic art collection. The children's bathroom even includes blue tiles as a nod to the colorful public toilets in Hong Kong, a city that holds a special place in Kirsten's heart.
The main bathroom features patterned wallpaper that evokes Hong Kong's mountains, while the home's design as a whole is immersed in its context, referencing Hong Kong and the vibrant local community and lifestyle. Kirsten describes her favorite part of the house as feeling like a tree house with birds and banksia, a peaceful retreat within the urban context.
The home's design promotes indoor-outdoor living with a modern grid layout, maximizing natural light and spatial flow. The home serves as a sanctuary, blending lush greenery and street life, and has received praise from passers-by for its unique and inviting aesthetic.
Kirsten expresses her happiness with her family's home, describing it as an urban refuge. The central courtyard, a peaceful retreat within the urban context, transforms a compact site into a sanctuary. The home's design successfully balances modernist principles with a warm, inviting atmosphere, making it both a family-oriented and artistically expressive urban refuge.
[1] Madeleine Blanchfield Architects. (2021). Kirsten Zaki's House in Bondi
[2] Dezeen. (2021). Kirsten Zaki's House in Bondi by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects
[3] ArchDaily. (2021). Kirsten Zaki's House in Bondi
[4] Domain. (2021). Interior designer Kirsten Zaki's Bondi home is a living, breathing art gallery
[5] ArchitectureAU. (2021). Kirsten Zaki's House in Bondi by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects
- The extensive use of timber and concrete tiles in Kirsten Zaki's home contribute to its unique, character-rich outdoor living environment.
- Kirsten's creative influence can be seen in the home's interior design, with furniture and art pieces that reflect her lifestyle and artistic taste.
- The kitchen, with its deep-blue marble island, exemplifies the modern trend of combining functional spaces with contemporary aesthetics.
- The living room, located on the first floor, showcases a trendy layout that fosters a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
- The children's bathroom, adorned with blue tiles, is an homage to the vibrant lifestyle and art found in Hong Kong, a city dear to Kirsten's heart.
- The main bathroom's patterned wallpaper, evoking the mountains of Hong Kong, is a testament to the home's immersion in its cultural context and lifestyle.
- The future of interior design in homes like Kirsten Zaki's family home in Bondi will likely continue to blend modernist principles with personal, artistic expressions, creating urban refuges that cater to lifestyle and home-and-garden trends.
