House Azure

Southern Highlands, NSW

A History in the Making

House Azure began with a feeling. On first encounter, Georgina Carless, the property owner and project lead, recognised something already present, a distinct atmosphere that would guide what followed. The original block formed part of the gatekeeper’s entrance to Kings Ranch, a history that continues to inform the character of the site.

As she reflects, “I felt the Genii Locorum when I first walked this block,” a reference to the ancient Roman idea of the spirit of a place, its inherent character and presence.

What has emerged is not a fixed outcome, but an ongoing process. The project continues to shift, shaped by instinct and observation, with function guiding each transformation.

Shaped by hand, guided by intuition

Without formal training in design or landscaping, Georgina has conceived and carried out the work herself, both the thinking and the making.

There is a sense of confidence in that process. Nothing feels imposed. Each element settles into place, responding to its surroundings. Always close by is Nelson, Georgina’s poodle and undisputed boss of the house, moving between spaces with quiet authority.

Roy Cocoon

In rhythm with the environment

Georgina’s inspiration comes from the work itself, from the physical act of making, and from a close reading of the land, its character, its flora and fauna. Her thinking draws on classical ideas of proportion and balance, including Polykleitos and Phidias’s Kanon, the embodiment of proportional rationality.

A sense of order runs throughout. Spaces open and close, creating a natural flow between interior and garden.

Within this transition, considered selections from the Cotswold Furniture collection bring structure to the space. Pieces such as the Roy Cocoon in the garden and the Cruz Cocoon in the living room echo one another in form, varying only in material to suit their environment, and reinforcing a seamless transition between indoors and out.

Gipsy cocoon

“I have loved every minute of this journey, its muscle flex physicality, designing my home, the homework required prior to the build, the construction and joy of building a house and garden, the joy of discovering the Genius Loci, its flora and fauna.” - G.C.