There is a certain restraint in the architecture of Adriano Pupilli. His designs have a beautiful simplicity that belies the thoughtfulness of the residences and public commissions which come from his eponymous practice.
Adriano Pupilli Architects was established in 2016, and as principal, Pupilli and his team of six, have achieved much in the quest to provide design that is pared back, sympathetic to nature and exceeds a client brief.
The main practice is located in Manly, Sydney with a secondary studio in Manyana, on the south coast of New South Wales. While public commissions figure large in the studios’ portfolio, there are also many residential projects and a very unique design that has been utilised as the Manyana studio.
Named IMBY Kit™, standing for In My Back Yard, this project is a sustainable modular building kit that can be assembled onsite using basic tools and no prior training. As the studio for the practice, it ticks every box and then some as it can be expanded or packed up and re-located if required.
The idea of IMBY Kit™ is multi-layered, as the assembled building has minimal impact on existing flora and fauna and resides in the landscape with ease. It can be dissembled, reconfigured, added to, subtracted from and flat-packed for storage. It’s a building kit that has the quality of architectural thinking and can be installed in both urban and rural settings. In recognition of its excellent design, IMBY™ Kit Manyana was a winner at the 2018 Timber Design Awards and the accolade speaks for itself.
Single residential design is also high on the agenda of the practice and Courtyard House Curl Curl is a stellar example of Pupilli’s work that is both refined and substantial.
As a home for a young family, there is room to move and facilities aplenty in Courtyard House Curl Curl. The home has been designed with two main wings, sleeping quarters for parents and children, that are linked by a bridge on the first floor above the living, kitchen and dining areas which adjoin an outdoor space at ground level.
Inside the home there are double-height voids and, with a minimal palette of neutral colours, this is a place of calm and respite in which to grow and thrive. To assist with privacy, there is an exterior second skin, a system of fibre cement perforated bi-folding screens and these constantly move in response to the season, time of day and coastal weather.
The home wraps itself around the central courtyard and swimming pool that is the heart of this home and there is connectivity within and to the outside with views of Curl Curl.
Adriano Pupilli and his team are adding a singular architectural voice to the built environment where their projects speak of design excellence that enhances and enriches life for people and place.
Of his work, Adriano Pupilli says, “Our architecture seeks to make the outdoors, awareness of light, breezes and seasonal variations an everyday part of life in the home. As humans our happiness and wellness, and that of our families, depend on this connection with time and nature. Homes can also be stages for communal family life to unfold, as well as refuges to replenish and restore the mind and soul. Our architecture seeks to strike the perfect balance in line with our client’s aspirations.”
Whether a single residence or a new design for living big within a small footprint, Adriano Pupilli is certainly making his mark on the built environment and making a difference to the way people live.
Project details
Architecture and interiors – Adriano Pupilli Architects
Photography – IMBY, Courtesy IMBY Kit, Courtyard House Curl Curl by Adriano Pupilli
