Architecture, Space

Balnarring Retreat By Branch Studio Architects

View all 7 Photos

A lo-fi, versatile and multi-functional retreat that embraces slow living.

Standing at the edge of a pond and surrounded by vegetation, this cabin by the lake offers its inhabitants a quiet living space away from their urban home. A place for slow living in a gorgeous natural environment. A place where the sun, water, birds, and greenery become a part of the interior. And a perfect example of the contemporary cabins Australia has to offer.

The modern Balnarring Retreat was ingeniously designed by Branch Studio Architects as a multipurpose retreat/studio. It easily transforms to fulfill the clients’ different requirements through folding furniture, as well as sliding panels and curtains. Thus, “the inhabitant must fold and unfold the various components by hand, mindfully manipulating the very space they inhabit and therefore becoming a part of the space, not the master of it,” say the architects.

Modern and simple at the same time, this cabin by the lake rejects fixed labels in favor of versatility. It’s a peaceful retreat, office, yoga studio, reading room, or welcoming space for gathering with friends and family. Clad in rich brown wood and boasting light plywood walls and ceilings, it has the warmth of a mountain cabin. But stepping inside, guests find a contemporary space where concrete floors and minimalist furniture create a stylish, lofty ambience. A glazed wall set before the sunken lounge area fills the main room with natural light and frames the view. Here, time slows down as nature comes into focus and puts everything in a new light. Photography by Peter Clarke.

More for you

The Uneg Office


Interior Design

A minimalist space that captures a Korean studio’s approach to furniture, object, and…

The Cache, A Lakeside Retreat ...


Architecture

An exploration of the lakeside house typology, these prefab wood-clad cabins integrat…

Corfu House


Architecture

A sprawling summer house designed with stone walls that mirror the rocky landscape of…

RAW House


Architecture

The beautiful transformation of a Victorian terraced house into bright and vibrant ho…

The Wandering House


Architecture

A contemporary house that gives a nod to vernacular Swiss architecture with recycled …

Limestone House


Architecture

The sensitive transformation of a grade-listed property with a full refurbishment and…

Around the world

Treehouse Villas, A Nature-Cen...


Around the World

Seven tree house villas in Bali nestled among lush vegetation on a sloping site that …

Ftelia Beach Club


Around the World

Italian design meets modernist vibes in a tranquil retreat by the sea in Greece.
Nes…

Pa.te.os, A stunning coastal r...


Around the World

Four concrete houses that invite guests to lose themselves in a spectacular coastal l…

Staff Picks

Unfolding Spaces: The Revolutionary IWI Folding Pod

Greenhouse Memory

Bridging the Gap: The Greenhouse that Became a Home

Virtual Tour of Richard Neutra’s Iconic VDL House Now Available

Stay Updated

FacebookPinterestRedditLinkedInEmailWhatsAppX