A Home That Integrates Indoor and Outdoor Spaces with Its Natural Surroundings

A House Designed to Interact with Its Surroundings

This building was designed to serve as an ideal residence for a family of four, a couple and their two children, while thoughtfully integrating elements of nature into daily life. The house is situated on a quiet corner within a residential complex adjacent to a golf course, offering a prime location with roads on three sides, while keeping the southern side open.

Maximizing Location and Privacy

The location was optimized by defining the boundaries around the building and enclosing the exterior with walls, allowing the creation of diverse outdoor spaces that maintain privacy. These spaces vary in size and function, including areas for gardening and relaxation, enabling residents to feel surrounded by nature in their daily lives. Learn more about building materials that support sustainable designs.

Blending Indoor and Outdoor Life

Every outdoor space was designed with a specific function, whether a balcony or a garden, wrapping around the interior living areas. This design creates both visual and functional connections between the indoors and outdoors, enhancing a sense of warmth and comfort, reminiscent of family camping atmospheres that inspire joy and relaxation.

House Entrance and Integration of Natural Light

Upon entering the building, sunlight filters through the upper openings, creating a sense of warmth and vitality. Visitors are greeted by an outdoor courtyard adorned with natural stone and wood, enclosed by walls that provide a feeling of privacy. The garden lighting is designed to be moderate, not too bright nor too dim, creating a serene atmosphere that alleviates the hustle and bustle of daily life outside.

Naturally Separating Spaces

A small courtyard is positioned between the living room and the kitchen, acting as a natural divider while maintaining fluidity between the two areas. This courtyard allows natural light to enter and can also accommodate rain and winter snow, adding a sense of connection with nature inside the home. See more about interior design approaches for integrating light.

Outdoor Paths that Mimic a Forest

The outdoor spaces add both functional and aesthetic value, making the interior design feel more comfortable. The pathway leading from the kitchen to the guest room simulates the experience of walking through a forest, introducing an engaging interactive element with the surrounding natural environment.

Private Outdoor Spaces for Each Room

Each room on the second floor is equipped with its own private outdoor space, where natural light filters through the glass walls, creating a sense of openness and comfort. The direct connection between the rooms and their balconies enhances natural ventilation and provides a seamless indoor-outdoor experience.

Interconnection Between Floors

The second-floor balcony connects to the living room courtyard on the first floor and overlooks the plants growing in front of the first-floor bathroom, creating a visual and organic connection between the building’s different levels. This design offers a dynamic and diverse space, making the home more interactive and visually enriching.

Hidden Shared Spaces

The small hall located between the children’s rooms serves as a hidden shared space for the family, where each member can enjoy their own activity, whether sipping coffee, reading a book, or simply relaxing. The dividing walls are made of lightweight, adjustable drywall panels, providing flexibility for future spatial reconfiguration to accommodate the family’s changing needs.

Interaction with Nature

The diverse plantings and varied indoor and outdoor spaces help the family perceive seasonal and natural changes. This approach transforms the house into a camping-like environment, blending everyday life with nature, designed specifically to meet the needs of the four family members. Architects and enthusiasts can learn from architecture strategies that integrate nature into residential projects.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

From an architectural standpoint, this project demonstrates a clear focus on integrating indoor and outdoor spaces and fostering a connection with nature, providing opportunities to enhance both comfort and privacy within the home. The arrangement of courtyards, balconies, and room partitions contributes to improved natural lighting and ventilation, allowing the family to experience varying living spaces that respond to seasonal and weather changes.

However, the project does have some limitations that could pose challenges in terms of long-term practicality. For instance, the abundance of courtyards and open spaces may require regular maintenance to preserve their quality, and the placement of certain interior spaces relative to the courtyards may not be ideal for all daily activities. Additionally, the emphasis on interaction with nature could reduce the home’s flexibility for future modifications or the addition of new elements without affecting the fluidity between indoor and outdoor areas.

Designers and architecture enthusiasts can benefit from this project as a case study on how to integrate the external environment into residential design, with a focus on balancing privacy, natural ventilation, and lighting. The project also provides an opportunity to explore sustainable solutions for managing and maintaining open spaces in a way that aligns with daily use, without compromising the desired architectural experience. For more studies, check Archive.

Project information

• Architects: Archery
• Area: 244 m²
• Year: 2025
• Photos: Archery