Belgian architect Nicolas Schuybroek established his practice in Brussels 2011. Schuybroek began his career in Montreal, Canada working for INTEGRAL Jean Beaudoin. Most recently, he spent five years working as a project director for Vincent Van Duysen in Antwerp, handling a variety of high-end design projects in Belgium and beyond. What I really love about this man’s work is his considered approach, relentless consistency and understated luxury captured in each space. His projects explore a sharp vision of space and materials, while maintaining a feeling of warmth…

If there’s one thing Australian architects are really bloody good at, it would have to be The House. Houses Awards recently announced their 2013 shortlist for 125 residential projects across the eight categories. So many fantastic projects by amazing local architects, beautifully captured by our talented photographers. Australia’s got (some serious) talent! Here are just a few of my favourite projects…

If I had to nominate a favourite typology in domestic architecture (it’s a question we’re all asked most days), it would be the courtyard house. And this one, by São Paulo’s UNA Arquitetos, is a cracker. A good courtyard house does many things at once – holds the edges of a site, opens up a kernel of space in the middle, cradles privacy within, permits views across into other rooms and in so doing enlivens opposite ends of the home. I could go on…

Inspired by the ghosts of the former inner city nightclub’s first patrons, Captain Melville in Melbourne was recently refurbished and re-invented as a restaurant and bar by the local studio Breathe Architecture. Previously known as Mac’s Hotel, the building dates back to 1853 – the time when the first settlers descended on Australian shores. In the spirit of this historic narrative, the fit-out is conceptually based on the scene of mass occupation of Australia in the 1850′s by immigrants chasing gold in the Australian Gold Rush…

Located in Interlaken in Bernese Oberland (Bernese Highlands) in Switzerland, this beautiful 200 year-old farmhouse dates back to early 1800s. In 1890, the property was turned into a country house. This year, the chalet was lovingly refurbished by Swiss design agency Bergdorf in collaboration with Berne-based architect Nick Ruef…