The family room sits at the centre of the ground floor with sightlines to the kitchen, the terrace and the stair. That was deliberate: whoever is cooking is never cut off from whoever is sitting down.

It measures 7.4 by 5.9 metres with a 5.2 metre ceiling at the apex, which is what lets the room take a full-size sofa arrangement without feeling like furniture has been pushed to the walls.

Light through the day

Glazing on two aspects means the room is usable from early morning without lights. The west wall stays clear of windows so it can take a screen.

Acoustics

The ceiling is broken by exposed beams that scatter reflections, so the room does not ring the way tall spaces usually do.