The Local Project Issue 08 – “A Considered Coocoon”

Featuring Currawong House

Words: Millie Thwaites // Photography: Andy MacPherson

“For Olive Cooke and Henry Tervenski, designing and building their own home felt entirely natural. Olive’s keen eye for design and Henry’s role as Director of Morada Build proved a fitting and essential starting point. Armed with the help of Davis Architects and a readiness to call somewhere special home, the pair embarked on their second project together last year, Currawong House in Ewingsdale.

The house follows Olive and Henry’s aspirations for a secluded and protected home that enjoys its proximity to nature. “The ultimate goal was for a sanctuary, which I think we’ll get once the landscaping matures,” Henry says. There is a distinct modernist influence in the design of the two-storey house; it is defined by simple, clean lines, a flat roof, intimate walled gardens and an organic interiority. But Currawong House is not masquerading as a mid-century home; it embraces its contemporary bones, nodding to the work of modernists through its form while relishing in its newness. “It’s not a religious ode to mid-century modern,” Olive muses. “It’s quite eclectic in the sense that we’ve brought a lot of things we love to the table.”

Currawong House is situated on an acre of land, however clever landscaping, site orientation and white rendered walls create the feeling of a protected sanctuary embracing its proximity to nature.

Principal Architect Ed Davis explains, “the single storey presentation of the house from the street and horizontal lines combined with the garden walls, which are almost like the arms of the building reaching out and drawing the landscape in, all make the building respectful to the site and the surrounding area.” As Olive offers, the intent was to design a simple home with modernist architectural touchpoints and bring warmth, character and an individual energy to the interiors through surprising moments of colour and vintage finds. Henry describes it as “simple but effective,” adding, “it’s not over-designed, it’s actually just really nice and homey”.”

Discover more about Currawong House via The Local Project “A Considered Coocoon” feature article and video here.

Project Credits:

Architecture: Davis Architects // Builder: Morada Build // Interiors & Styling: Olive Cooke // Landscaping: Cooke Landscape Architecture // Landscape Install: Fig Landscapes // Photography:Andy MacPherson