A family’s desire to escape city life to something that felt distinctly different resulted in a brief for interior architect Benôit Viaene to create a getaway from the everyday; where kids, friends and family could gather in a warm and cosy interior.

Working within an existing, heritage-listed structure, Benôit conceptualised an extension grounded in a unity of spaces that are oriented according to the sun’s movement and bear his signature hallmarks of materiality, light and craftsmanship. “Light is the first element you experience when entering a space, and in this home, the light brings materials to life as it plays with the structures and overall tactility,” he says. “The main idea was to create a home for the holidays where you enter a relaxing place, taking you out of the everyday comfort zone, with a lot of light in different areas.”