Grand Designs Australia Magazine is searching for Australia’s most extraordinary residential architecture for the 2027 House of the Year Awards.
From innovative new builds and unconventional designs to thoughtful heritage transformations and sustainable homes, the Awards celebrate architects’ originality and craftsmanship.
This showcase comprises a selection of entries for the award ceremony held in April 2027. Architects are encouraged to register their projects early for the opportunity to have their work considered among Australia’s most exceptional homes.
1. Sandford House
Perched high on an elevated escarpment, Sandford House takes in sweeping coastal views across the lands of the Mumirimina people. Designed to preserve a century of family memories, the home unfolds across generous pavilions and sun-drenched verandahs. Warm timber interiors connect seamlessly with the surrounding bushland, celebrating the home’s handcrafted origins as a humble coastal shack while giving it a refined contemporary expression.
Architect: 1+2 Architecture
Builder: Delpero & Clements
Photographer: Adam Gibson
2. Link House
Link House reimagines a heritage dwelling around the rhythms of contemporary family life, balancing a respect for tradition with a distinctly modern approach. Spaces for both private retreat and communal living are thoughtfully woven together, while muted interiors open onto bright, carefully curated gardens. The result is a calm suburban oasis where heritage, landscape and contemporary living are seamlessly connected.
Architect: Pleysier Perkins
Builder: BD Projects
Landscape Designer: Paul Pritchard Landscape Design
Photographer: Timothy Kaye
3. Kanooka House
Kanooka House is an ode to low-impact family living, nestled among the melaleuca trees of the northern NSW hinterland. Drawing on the character of its neighbourhood, the home combines fibro, apricot brick and a shallow roofline to create a distinctly local façade. Its seamless, flowing plan balances openness with privacy, fostering a sense of connection to the street while creating a calm sanctuary within.
Architect: Knight Office
Collaborating Architect: Dan Wilson
Builder: Berecon
Photographer: Yaseera Moosa
Landscape Designer: TOCO
4. Solara
Set softly behind pristine sand dunes and shielded from the Southern Ocean, Solara captures the essence of site-responsive design. Recycled brick, warm hardwood timbers and raw materials create a refined, earthly presence that is imbued with quiet luxury. Designed around an active coastal lifestyle, sustainability is central to this home’s design, which achieves an impressive 9.6 Star Energy Rating.
Architect: The Sociable Weaver
Builder: Martin Builders
Engineer: Deery Consulting
Building Biologist: Narelle McDonald
Photographer: Marnie Hawson
5. Gunn Ridge House
Reimagining a home originally designed by Graeme Gunn, Kennedy Nolan preserved the hallmarks of its original design: a strong relationship between interior and garden, an emphasis on Australian native plants, textual materiality, passive solar design and limited construction palette. The renovation restores the original fabric of the home, while also expanding spaces, introducing new apertures and fresh, colourful moments to revitalise its innovative roots.
Architect: Kennedy Nolan
Builder: IBUILDM
Landscape Designer: Fiona Brockhoff Design
Entries close on 9 October 2026 for the Grand Designs Australia Magazine: House of the Year Awards.
Click here to meet the 2027 judging panel.
To view the winners of last year’s Awards, click here.
Want more inspiration? Keep an eye out for issue 15.2 of Grand Designs Australia Magazine.
Grand Designs Australia Magazine: House of the Year Awards is brought to you by UNOX Casa, Pixel International, Big Ass Fans, Riva Ceramica, Rockcote, and Zumi Bathware. Click here to learn more about our sponsors.