The Local Project

Project Feature • Timber framing sits at the heart of Roland Skuce’s work in Lola Residence, forming a natural starting point for the design. Pine was chosen for its warmth and ability to patina beautifully over time, complemented by lightly smoked oak kitchen cabinetry, flooring and unlacquered brass.

Moments of colour appear in the powder room and children’s bedrooms, introducing soft, dusty tones largely reserved for the home’s more intimate spaces.

The primary wing feels spacious and serene, overlooking a backyard garden of river birches, echinacea, lavender and native grasses, where deer make quiet appearances. This peaceful coexistence between home and landscape is what defines Lola Residence.

Head to this link https://thelocalproject.com.au/articles/lola-residence-by-jade-and-roland-skuce-the-local-project/ to read Lola Residence by Jade and Roland Skuce on The Local Project.

Photography by Riley Snelling.
Building design by Jade Skuce, Rockside Projects and Caledon Timberframes.
Interior design by Jade Skuce.
Build by Rockside Projects.
Styling by Jade Skuce.
Landscape design by Melanie Rekola.

Project Feature • Perched above the kinetic rhythm of Lower Manhattan, Nacho Polo and Robert Onuska’s Tribeca Residence reads as an exercise in restraint, nuance and subtle theatre.

Spanning roughly 375 square metres, the four-bedroom apartment sits directly opposite the owners’ New York gallery yet operates on a different frequency – one that is intimate, contemplative and personal. For the founders of StudioTwentySeven, the home was conceived as a natural extension of their curatorial world, a place where art, design and daily life coexist. What began as a place to live has since become the genesis of their collecting journey.

Head to this link https://thelocalproject.com.au/articles/nacho-polo-and-robert-onuskas-tribeca-residence-by-herzog-de-meuron-and-studiotwentyseven-the-local-project/ to read Nacho Polo and Robert Onuska’s Tribeca Residence by Herzog & de Meuron and StudioTwentySeven on The Local Project.

Photography by William Jess Laird.
Architecture by Herzog & de Meuron.
Interior design by Nacho Polo and Robert Onuska.
Styling by Tim Brown.

Project Feature • Set within the layered topography of Mosman on Sydney’s North Shore, Clifton House is the work of esteemed design and building practice Cadence & Co.

Rather than erasing what came before, the design listens to it: Cadence & Co’s reimagination creates dialogue between past and present, honouring the home’s original character while allowing contemporary interventions to emerge.

Head to this link https://thelocalproject.com.au/articles/clifton-house-by-cadence-co-the-local-project/ to read Clifton House by Cadence & Co on The Local Project.

Photography by Felix Mooneeram.
Styling by Room on Fire.
Architecture, interior design and build by Cadence & Co.
Landscape design by Bates Holmes.
Furniture curation by Ampersand Interiors.
Artwork by Jasmine Mowbray, Christine Puruntatameri and André de Vanny.

Project Feature • When an architect designs a home for themselves, something more personal comes to the surface. Any semblance of performance falls away, leaving room for what matters most: care and instinct. Paul Conrad, studio director of his eponymous architecture firm, understands this very well. In designing his new-build Melbourne residence, he was not only thinking as an architect but as a husband and father creating a home for his family.

Offering the qualities Conrad had been looking for, the leafy inner-eastern suburb was a new setting for the architect, whose studio had more often worked on sprawling estates and coastal homes. But while the context was different, the design approach remained the same.

Head to this link https://thelocalproject.com.au/articles/conrad-residence-by-paul-conrad-architects-the-local-project/ to read Conrad Residence by Paul Conrad Architects on The Local Project.

Photography by Timothy Kaye.
Architecture, interior design and styling by Paul Conrad Architects.
Build by Davies Henderson.
Landscape design by Paul Bangay and Mia Lester (children's garden).
Stone and tiles by Artedomus.

Project Feature • For Daniel Joseph Chenin, maximising natural light in Portside Residence was critical. Morning light enters the home’s secluded courtyard, imparting a sun-kissed radiance, while moments of compression and expansion open the layout through inviting surprise.

Throughout the day, shifting light dances across the surfaces from the kitchen’s sculptural island – a solid carved piece of onyx that mimics the ocean’s waves – to the powder bathroom’s steel porthole mirror reflecting a school of fish and the primary bathroom encased in flowing marble.

Through these moments of light, material and movement, Portside Residence becomes a home deeply attuned to its surroundings.

Head to this link https://thelocalproject.com.au/articles/portside-residence-by-daniel-joseph-chenin-the-local-project/ to read Portside Residence by Daniel Joseph Chenin on The Local Project.

Photography by Tim Hirschmann.
Architecture and interior design by Daniel Joseph Chenin.
Build by Hill Construction Co.
Engineering by Positive Energy.

The (Emerging) Designer Awards • Celebrating the next generation of design talent, the 2026 (Emerging) Designer Awards are open for entries, with just under one month left to submit.

Presented alongside Artedomus, the awards invite emerging creatives to share work that reflects originality, innovation and environmentally conscious thinking. The Residential Interior category highlights those shaping thoughtful, liveable spaces, while the broader program also recognises excellence across the Residential Architecture, Commercial Interior and Product Designer categories.

Winners will receive valuable online exposure, with their work showcased across The Local Project’s platforms to an audience of design professionals and engaged readers.

Head to this link https://emergingdesignerawards.com/ to learn more about The (Emerging) Designer Awards and submit your entry.

Project Feature • For West Village Loft in New York, Clive Lonstein translated the client’s desired Californian sensibility through an emphasis on visual lightness.

Utilising the existing high ceilings and expansive windows, soft off-whites form the foundation of the interior, creating a backdrop against which texture, artwork and natural light become more pronounced. Within this pared-back framework, contrast is key. Dark-stained flooring anchors the neutral interior, while plaster surfaces, natural timbers and metallic elements create depth and tactility.

Rather than competing with the apartment’s dramatic outlook – panoramic views of the Hudson River – the design maintains a sense of calm, allowing the river and city beyond to remain central to the experience.

Head to this link https://thelocalproject.com.au/articles/west-village-loft-by-clive-lonstein-the-local-project/ to read West Village Loft by Clive Lonstein on The Local Project.

Photography by William Jess Laird.
Interior design by Clive Lonstein.
Styling by Brittany Albert.
Artwork by Carla Accardi, Tom Friedman, Isabella Huffington, Mimi Lauter, Asher Liftin, Marlon Mullen, Hilary Pecis, Quinah, Raymond Saunders, Thomas Struth, Cynthia Talmadge and Franz West.

Project Feature • Designed by Adelaide-based firm, Williams Burton Leopardi, this contemporary farmhouse pairs sculptural concrete with clean linear forms, creating a home that feels timeless, personal and connected to its Barossa Valley setting.

RM House draws from the rugged beauty of the South Australian landscape. The home’s smoky black timber, washed grey concrete and dark metal cladding create a restrained, monolithic exterior, softened by ivy, garden creepers and expansive views. An infinity pool extends toward the rolling hills, drawing the beautiful landscape even further into the architecture.

Head to this link https://thelocalproject.com.au/articles/rm-house-by-williams-burton-leopardi-the-local-project/ to read RM House by Williams Burton Leopardi on The Local Project.

Photography by Caroline Cameron.
Architecture, interior design and styling by Williams Burton Leopardi.
Build and joinery by Underwood Building.
Landscape design by TCL and Lee Gray Landscape Design.
Paint by Dulux.
Tiles by Eco Outdoor.

Video Feature • The Made by Storey Series • Choosing the perfect flooring begins with understanding where a product comes from, how it is made and how it performs once installed.

In the fifth instalment of this series, the journey of the Trace collection, developed by Made by Storey, comes full circle, following the path from Belgian forests and workshops to completed residential projects where craftsmanship, durability and customisation are put to the test.

Head to this link https://thelocalproject.com.au/videos/trace-by-storey-episode-5-coming-home-the-local-project/ to watch the full video on The Local Project.

Photography by The Local Production.
Architecture and interior design by Studiojos.

Video Feature • Beyond aesthetics, Overlook by Altruist, developed with Charred Architecture and Kula Modern, reflects a broader architectural ambition centred on sustainable design within Idaho’s evolving built environment.

Altruist co-founder CJ Pennington speaks to a desire for architecture that encourages deeper conversations around creativity, environmental sensitivity and the future of regional design.

The project’s significance lies not only in its visual identity, but in its intention to inspire a more considered approach to building in natural settings. Through a balance of privacy, gathering and immersion in nature, Overlook becomes a model for more thoughtful regional architecture.

Head to this link https://thelocalproject.com.au/videos/overlook-by-altruist-the-local-project/?highlight=overlook to watch the full video on The Local Project.

Photography by Ethan Jones.
Architecture, interior design and build by Altruist.
Structural engineering by Axiom.