Airbnb Australia has revealed the finalists and winners of its 2023 Airbnb Host Awards. Here are three top architecturally designed homes named finalists for their memorable design qualities:
Boneca Apartment by Brad Swartz Architects
Boneca Apartment by Brad Swartz Architects
Image: Tom Ferguson
A micro apartment renovated by Brad Swartz Architects received the award for Apartment or Unit in the 2018 Houses Awards and was a finalist in the Best Design Stay category of the 2023 Airbnb Host Awards. The subtle redesign of an existing twenty-four-square-metre apartment in Sydney has resulted in a sophisticated and luxurious getaway of unexpected spatial depth. Each space has been thoughtfully arranged into a single integrated core, enabling a relatively generous living room to emerge – comparable in scale to the living room of a regular one-bedroom apartment. This compact Airbnb manages to feel comfortable, cozy and capacious all at the same time.
Read more here or rent apartment here.
Laneway Studio by McGregor Westlake
Laneway Studio by McGregor Westlake
Image: Brett Boardman
Another finalist in the Best Design Stay category of the Airbnb Host Awards, Laneway Studio sits perched above a garage in inner-suburban Sydney. In designing Laneway Studio, architect Peter McGregor challenged himself with three principles: to be a good citizen and engage with the laneway; to be a good neighbour and minimize overshadowing and bulk; and to maximize the internal space, light, ventilation and privacy. A difficult task, given the council’s preference for an attic-style roof with dormer windows. McGregor received approval from council to create a mansard roof form spanning the width of the block. The mansard roof has enabled the architect to deliver on all his objectives, affording better privacy and improved internal amenity. It is a truly unique stay.
Read more here or rent the apartment here.
The Barn Tas by Workbylizandalex
The Barn Tas by Workbylizandalex.
Image: Matt Samson
The Barn Tas, winner of the 2015 Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture, has now also been named a finalist in the Best Unique Stay category of the Airbnb Host Awards. This project involved transforming a small, neglected and dilapidated barn into a warm and inviting home, abounded in historical charm. The vision – to retain as much of the existing fabric as possible – has been achieved through the preservation of original stonework, timberwork and plasterwork. This project overwhelmingly demonstrates that less is more – revealing itself as an unforgettable holiday accommodation.
