What makes a great Australian home? | Mel Bright

Over the last thirteen years, Studio Bright has garnered numerous national architecture and interior design awards for its residential work. The latest addition to these acknowledgements is the Robin Boyd Award, which Studio Bright’s Hedge and Arbour House won at the 2025 Australian Institute of Architects National Awards. This is the most significant award for a new residential project in Australia – so it’s safe to say Studio Bright knows how to design a great home. In today’s episode, Alexa Kempton, editor of Houses magazine, talks with the practice’s principal and design director, Mel Bright, about how she designs a home that supports daily life, how residential briefs have changed over time and what her clients have taught her about how we live in Australia. Further reading: 2025 Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) https://architectureau.com/articles/2025-robin-boyd-award-for-residential-architecture-houses-new/ Hedge and Arbour House by Studio Bright https://architectureau.com/articles/hedge-and-arbour-house-by-studio-bright/ Mansard House by Studio Bright https://architectureau.com/articles/mansard-house-by-studio-bright/ Maitland Bay House by Studio Bright https://architectureau.com/articles/maitland-bay-house-studio-bright/ Garden Tower House by Studio Bright https://architectureau.com/articles/garden_tower_house_studio_bright/