Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnson Architecture (KJA), located in Eltham, VIC, has been carefully designed as a downsize project for two aging-homeowners, who wanted a space that could serve them for years to come. The brief centred largely around providing a suitable home for retirement, that integrated thoughtful design choices to allow for ease of mobility and reduced risks into their later years.

Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Grey armchair in corner of room with white sheer curtains, rammed earth walls, grey carpet and floating timber cabinetry.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Living space with fireplace, integrated timber bench window seating, grey carpets, white walls and brown leather couch.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Entry and open plan kitchen with polished concrete flooring, and rammed earth and timber clad walls.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.

The single level residence allows its clients to 'age in place'; a design approach that considers safety, accessibility and ability support with the intention of creating a home that can adapt to decreased mobility and long-term independent living at home for an increased quality of life. The clients brief has been achieved through the implementation of a variety of design features, such as adopting a single level design, integrating wider-than-usual corridors and doors, resolved design which provide a logical direct access to rooms with hierarchy (e.g. Kitchen to pantry to laundry to outside), and low maintenance finishes.

Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Front faacde of single storey home with grey walls, large windows, timber door and pavers through garden.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Bathroom with grey tile flooring, rammed earth and white tile walls, timber cabinetry, glass screen and freestanding white tub.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Living room with polished concrete floors, rammed earth and painted white brick walls, large corner window and grey armchairs.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.

The home is influenced greatly by the context in which it dwells, with careful consideration made to the openings and viewings visible out of the home. Daily motions, such as eating breakfast or having a coffee, become part of a larger choreography, designed by KJA to serve of moments of reflection and connection with the outdoors, framed through considered sculpted openings and vistas. This allows the homeowners to experience the landscape through the architecture, fostering connection with the outdoors in all aspects of the home, whether it be through the dining areas connection with the courtyard, in the wet areas and their skylights which offer ambient light and sky views, or down the hallway, as shadows from the trees outdoors alight the rammed earth walls.

Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Walk in robe with grey flooring, integrated timber cabinetry, sage walls and thin window overlooking garden.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Outdoor timber deck with large double door access to interior, rammed earth and white walls and timber dining table.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Front facade of home with grey finish, abstract grey shade covering over window, and pavers through garden
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.

The homes materiality is also inspired by context, drawing upon the solid, earthen aesthetic inherent to Eltham, with a modern touch. Eltham is defined by its strong bush-suburban characteristics and traditionally known for mud brick and timber homes that utilise earthy materials, and so KJS wanted to honour tis materiality and biophilic design. Timber cladding is used generously throughout the home, grounding it in its bush location, whilst additionally adding warmth inside the home and tone to define space. Timber cladding wraps and clads the dropped ceiling over the open plan dining area and extends to the windows, framing the internal courtyard to visually connect these areas. Floors are finished in polished concrete, which provides a continuous floorplate and reflects light and shadows to active internal zones.

Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Kitchen with polished concrete flooring, white cabinetry, timber walls and ceilings, and black bar stools.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Laundry with polised concrete floors, white cabinetry and appliances, subway tile splashback and glass door opening onto garden.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Open plan kitchen, dining and living space with polished concrete floors, timber clad ceiling, white walls and white cabinetry.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.

The project is defined by its distinct rammed earth walls, which act as a 'spine' to the home, in which more public or shared spaces are separated from private ones. From the façade, the front entrance is presented with the rammed earth wall extending through an apparently open aperture next to the front door, visually connecting the inside and out. The rammed earth wall the extends the full length of the home, with all the living areas open to one side of this wall, and providing a glimpse of the backyard and pool beyond. The design elongates the home and blurs the divides of inside and out, visually maximising a floorplan that  is intentionally refined, in order to allow thoughtful use of the space in case if reduced mobility or long-term illness.

Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Kitchen with polished concerte flooring, timber walls, white cabinetry, and island bench with white timber clad kickboard and stone countertop.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Interior with polished concrete flooring, rammed earth walls and timber clad ceiling, with glass windows overlooking into courtyard with round planter with tree in it.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Entry and hallway with rammed earth walls to left, timber clad walls to right, polished concrete throughout, and timber front door.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.

Earth + Sky house is aptly named; it is a home that honours its surrounds through floorplan and materiality, reverently highlighting the natural beauty of Eltham from soil to sky. Beautiful, artful inclusions - such as the front door sidelight glazing that transforms into a skylight that runs the length of the home - have inspired a sense of wonder and awe in both the homeowners and visitors, who bask in the beautiful, tranquil space that KJA have created. Through thoughtful, considered design, the home responds to the changing needs of its aging clients, supporting their wellbeing well into the future.

If you would like to learn more about Earth + Sky House, you can view the video feature here and subscribe to our Youtube channel to stay up to date on new project features. Head over to the Kirsten Johnstone Architecture's CO-architecture profile, where you can explore other projects such as Veil + CO. House, and learn about the studio's principles.

PROJECT DETAILS

Architecture: Kirsten Johnstone Architecture
Photography: Tatjana Plitt
Builder: Ryan Developments
Landscape Architect: Landprojects
Landscaper: Landspace Constructions
Interior Designer: Tomorrow Living + Co
Structural and Civil Engineer: Maurice Farrugia & Associates

Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Minimalistic bathroom with limewashed grey walls, floating grey cabinet with raised circular sink, floating white toilet and polished concrete floors.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Outdoor timber deck at night, with rammed earth walls, timber furniture and light shining out of interior through glass door.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt. Hallway with polished concrete flooring, timber clad walls on left and rammed earth walls on right, leading to living space and outdoor timber deck.
Earth + Sky House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.