Perched on a contoured rocky site overlooking a lake, The Vault House is a compact 160 sq.m. home designed for a young family seeking warmth, simplicity, and ease of maintenance. Responding to the site’s three-metre slope and roads on three sides, the house is carefully oriented to open private spaces toward the expansive views of the lake on the west, while public areas remain connected to the road yet sheltered with enough privacy.
Organized around a central north–south spine, the home is anchored by a double-height atrium and skylit staircase that brings shifting natural light deep into the interiors. A series of gently curved vaults define the living, dining, and kitchen spaces, creating a seamless architectural language where walls flow into roof and back to ground. Clerestory windows bathe the interiors in soft daylight, minimizing the need for artificial lighting.
The western edge opens into intimate private spaces and a covered deck framing serene lake views, while playful mezzanine and interactive balcony spaces add warmth and dynamism to family life. Crafted with locally sourced materials, ferrocement vaults, exposed brick, recycled wood, IPS finishes, and reclaimed basalt stone, the house embraces restraint, minimalism, and contextual sensitivity, proving that modest means can still create deeply meaningful spaces.