It’s hard to play favourites with this pair of non-identical townhouses, created for an artist and an engineer. They share a boundary line and design DNA of warm, natural materials, private light-filled interiors, and clever outdoor connections. The challenge with twins is how to share the light equally.

Replacing a single-storey bungalow near Bondi Beach, the twins present different faces to the street, while internally the floor plans are mirrored. Each is designed in an L-shape around three light well/courtyard spaces that draw in light and breezes. The material palette of lightly bagged recycled brickwork with weatherboard and timber window and door frames nods to the coastal vernacular.

Interiors combine the warmth of wood, white-painted brickwork, and cool concrete floors. Sustainable design elements include glazing that maximises light, airflow, and heat exhaust for natural thermal comfort, while solar roof panels and embedded rainwater tanks harvest natural resources to reduce consumption.

Photography: Kat Lu