Sydney Living Museums will present an exhibition of the world’s most extraordinary residential architecture and interiors.
The exhibition, curated by author Karen McCartney, brings to life the content from her latest book, Superhouse: Architecture and interiors beyond the everyday, through the photography of Richard Powers.
Fifteen houses grouped into five themes will explore ideas of what makes a house “super.”
The houses include Australian examples such as the Skylight House by Chenchow Little, a reinvention of existing spaces; and the Flinders House by Wood Marsh, a house that carries the resolution of its form from exterior to interior.
In spite of preconceptions that a “superhouse” might connote large or opulent residences, some projects in the exhibition such as the Trunk House by Paul Morgan Architects demonstrate that even small spaces can exert architectural power.
Trunk House by Paul Morgan Architects.
Image: Peter Bennetts
“A superhouse delivers a 360-degree completeness of form,” McCartney explains, “its exterior and interior have a seamless execution and above all else, it is awe-inspiring.”
The exhibition will also offer visitors an immersive experience of three inspiring homes through the recreation of those spaces with a selection of materials and furnishings.
The spaces will include the 12th century Astley Castle in Warwickshire, England, which was completely transformed with a contemporary interior by Witherford Watson Mann; the prefabricated Almere House by Benthem Crouwel Architeken in The Netherlands, which was originally a temporary experiment but became long-term residence for architect Jan Benthem and his family; and Solo House by Pezo von Ellrichshausen in Spain, which turns the conventional arrangement of residential spaces inside out, with the living areas positioned along series of verandahs around the edge of the building with a pool in the centre.
The exhibition will be complemented by a series of talks presented by guest speakers including architects Hannah Tribe and James Stockwell.
Date
Location
Corner Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney, NSW, Australia
