Studio Bright has designed the Hedge and Arbour House in Melbourne, Australia.

The Hedge and Arbour House is a new suburban build in Melbourne that attempts to "mediate between suburban order and native wilderness," said Studio Bright.

By addressing a leafy suburban street with a thick, domestic hedge that connects to native bushland from the creek below, the location offered the opportunity to balance the intersection of wilderness with strict geometry and character, typical of suburbia.

Borrowed from the success of the hedge wall, layers arrayed in plan, delineating space and mediating privacy through two mechanisms – the garden wall and the arbour – where blockwork walls contrast with a delicate screen to form an arbour that encircles the building. Across the house, vines entwine the structure, shielding it from the elements.

"The careful selection of materials and design decisions resulted in a high-quality, sustainable home that meets the clients' needs while staying within a reasonable budget," added Studio Bright.

This project has been shortlisted in the house urban category of Dezeen Awards 2025.

Studio: Studio Bright
Project: Hedge and Arbour House