There’s no doubt why this cool, contemporary home is dubbed the Cloud House. But there’s nothing “fluffy” about this serious architectural design! Australian architecture firm McBride Charles Ryan created this unusual addition to a classical century-old Edwardian home, giving it some modern interest and restoring its rightful place as a local landmark here in Fitzroy North, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Architecture lovers, prepare for a trip to Cloud 9!
Inside, the existing home is traditional, with a largely white palette and conventional rooms and layout. As you walk through, you catch sight of something stop-dead-in-your-tracks red at the end of a long hallway leading to the new, ultra-modern addition.
As you enter this new, modern wing of the house, you find yourself in a big red box – welcome to the kitchen. Literally a box built inside the irregular-shaped volume, the space is outfitted with red cabinets, red shelving and red floors. This hotspot is the hub of the home connecting the main living areas.
Step down into the sunken living and dining area, and you’re instantly in awe of the piece de resistance and the project’s namesake – a cloud-shaped glass facade overlooking the pool and patio outside. The massive glazed wall floods interiors with natural light. And with nature just steps away, you get the feeling of being in the great outdoors. Furnishings are minimal, limited to just the essentials – a large dining table surrounded by red chairs, and a sofa sitting area. Overhead, pendant lights are suspended at different heights, illuminating these honey-colored interiors and reminding us of twinkling stars hanging in the sky.
This oddly shaped, whimsical volume echoes its signature silhouette in its walls and ceiling, surrounding family and friends with its playful geometry. The cloud-like curves are lined with natural wood, which extends seamlessly into the outdoors.
McBride Charles Ryan
