Big, bright and airy houses continue to define aspirational living, but with block sizes shrinking, homeowners are looking to clever design to maximise the sense of space throughout the home. That’s the case at 20 Bragato Way, a deeply personal project for architect Sharlene Browning, shaped by her belief in how nature influences the way we live and experience space.
When designing her four-bedroom, two-bathroom family home in Cromwell, Central Otago, Sharlene wanted to make the most of the compact 316sqm site, creating a home that feels open, light and connected to its surrounds.
“People often think bigger houses are better, but smaller floorplans can be more successful at encouraging connection through the sharing of areas. The key is to make intimate spaces feel open.”
Use less space, but make it work harder.
The idea was simple: use less space, but make it work harder. That meant creating a strong connection to nature, primarily the sky, light, air and surrounding parkland and Central Otago ranges beyond.
An initial priority for Sharlene was daylight and fresh air, using VELUX skylights to help light reach deeper into the home while supporting airflow and creating a greater sense of space.
“When people think about creating space, they try to make the box bigger. Our aim was to blur the lines between indoors and outdoors, so that walls and ceilings aren’t the limit of how you experience the home,” says Sharlene.
From the front door, the home opens, to clear views through to the park at the rear, called the Greenway. It creates a first impression of space and flow that continues through the house. Above, a VELUX skylight draws the eye up the stairs to the open attic space, adding height and keeping the connection to the outdoors consistent.
Connecting nature and home design.
“A great example is how the living room skylights throw daylight across the space. It completely shifts the way that room feels, especially in March and September as the morning sun reaches them. The effect can be hard to believe. At times it looks and feels like the lights are on, when they aren't,” she adds.
Weather considerations influencing the design.
Fresh air also plays a big role. Large windows and openable opening skylights work together to move air through the home, letting warm air escape in summer and keeping the space feeling fresh. “You don’t experience a space in feet and inches, it’s felt subconsciously. It’s why a space that utilises scale, colour, light and airflow, makes you feel more present,” adds Sharlene.
This subconscious design is typified by the interior wall heights, which were carefully considered to create a sense of volume that is enhanced with the use of vertical timber battening.
Light, layout and perceptions of scale.
“I’ve had people argue with me that rooms are bigger than they are. That’s the power of playing with dimensions and perspective,” adds Sharlene. This play on space only works if design elements are aligned, continues Sharlene:
“Placement is everything when it comes to mapping out a space, especially for windows and skylights. If an opening is slightly misaligned to lines created by walls, doors and even other openings, it jars the eye and interrupts the feeling of breadth created when you look from one end of a space to the other.
“Around ten per cent of the design process went into aligning windows, doors and skylights. I’d suggest investing that time to anyone building or renovating a home, so that they make the best connection to daylight and the surrounding nature,” she adds.
Maximising daylight in the attic space.
These principles of considered design are clearly visible in the attic, which adds extra usable space within the home’s footprint. Opening the space up has created both function and a greater sense of volume.
"The attic adds more than just its size to the feeling of openness. The block didn’t allow us to build out, so the attic has added a multi-functional additional room.
“The attic’s connection to daylight and nature makes it a great space for creativity and concentration as I work. What I love most though, is when the kids use it like their indoor treehouse with their friends.”
While creating space and connection to nature was a priority, it was Sharlene’s family that underscored every design choice.
“The layout is tuned to daily life,” says Sharlene.
Transitioning between zones of the home.
“It’s all about how spaces are used, from the kids running through hallways and the internal courtyard, to family gatherings in the living areas. We make the most of the space together, rather than retreating to our own corners of a bigger home.”
The courtyard sits at the heart of the home, acting as a sheltered outdoor room that extends the living space. However, it also connected to the main hallways, encouraging kids to run and play between these indoor-outdoor spaces while adults gather.
The connection to the outdoors continues in the living areas that face the Greenway, often thought of as a ‘borrowed backyard’. It gives the children room to play just beyond the boundary while still in view. Even small details, like the kitchen window overlooking the trampoline, make day-to-day life easier.
With people spending much of their time indoors, this approach feels practical and grounded. It’s about creating a home that supports family life while helping people feel connected to their surroundings.
Transforming homes into spaces you love.
VELUX skylights play an important role in this, helping bring more light in, improve airflow, and draw attention upward to the sky, creating a sense of openness that the size of the home alone couldn’t achieve.
For Sharlene, it’s something she notices every day.
“Whether it’s coming home from the shops, the school run, or a jog around the Greenway, I love coming back here. That’s when I really know the design is successful.”