A House of Light and Levels

Set against a gently sloping hill of native heath, with expansive views over Byron Bay, Sponder House is a home that responds with quiet confidence to its extraordinary setting. The heathland delicate, textured, and ecologically significant was treated as the true centrepiece of the site, shaping the design from the earliest stages.

Working alongside Harley Graham sharpened Kirrili’s design ethos, blending bold vision with meticulous detail. The experience deepened her passion for high-end architectural design, inspiring her to create spaces that are both daring and finely crafted.

At the heart of the home is a courtyard, embraced on all sides by a series of living platforms, tied together by a single hovering roof plane. These terraced levels create a rhythm of spaces that follow the sun, offer shelter from rain, and invite connection to the landscape at every turn.

The clients, a family of five, envisioned a house composed of indoor & outdoor rooms, a collection of places to retreat, gather, and feel immersed in nature. The architecture responds with generosity and clarity: a home that is both private and open, grounded and expansive.

As the house unfolds across the site, the entry evolves into a luminous beacon, a lantern on the hill. Gently glowing above the surrounding bushland, it marks the home’s presence without dominating the landscape, offering both welcome and wonder.

Recognition

WINNER BEST HOUSE 2013 Australian Institute of Architects NSW Country Division