Inside Modernist home Light Well House
GML Associate Mark Huntersmith reflects on a rare opportunity to experience Light Well House, an accomplished example of 1970s residential Modernism, through a hosted Q&A and house tour presented as part of Open House Melbourne 2026.
GML recently partnered with prominent interior designer Simone Haag to open her beautifully curated home, Light Well House, as part of this year’s Open House Melbourne Weekend.
Built in 1979 to a design by architect Ian Smith, Light Well House is a highly intact and accomplished example of 1970s residential Modernism. Recently featured in Bush Modern by Sean Fennessy and Jessica Lillico, its restrained, box-like form, flat roof and repetitive elevations are characteristic of the post-war modernist idiom, while its rigorous modular planning and unique Victorian Ash-lined interiors set it apart.
East of Melbourne, the post-war expansion of areas such as Balwyn North, Doncaster, Donvale and Warrandyte reshaped former orchards. For Modernist architects, this period offered an opportunity to reimagine the family home as a more open, responsive and generous environment—one shaped by light, landscape and climate rather than rigid convention. Homes from this era prioritised views, connection to the outdoors and flexible planning, embracing elements such as window walls and breezeways. Interiors featured honest, tactile materials including brick, timber panelling and exposed structure, reflecting a belief that good design could enrich everyday life through practicality and a strong connection to place. Light Well House exemplifies this design ethos through its clarity of form, sensitive response to site and enduring architectural integrity.
The day offered a rare opportunity to visit a privately owned Modernist home, now a carefully curated canvas for owner Simone Haag’s collection of furniture, objects and art—revealing how thoughtful design can continue to evolve while respecting its original ethos.
Held across two sold-out sessions, GML Associate Mark Huntersmith led a Q&A session at Light Well House with Simone and the original architect, Ian Smith. Together, they shared perspectives on the home’s original design ethos, its enduring architectural value, and the careful process of adapting a Modernist house for contemporary family life. Ian also shared an insightful glimpse into his architectural education and early career experiences during the 1950s and 1960s. Following each session, attendees explored the house and its exquisitely curated interior at their own pace.
It was wonderful to see so many people come together to learn more about Ian’s original vision for Light Well House, its enduring architectural value, and the careful process of adapting a Modernist house for contemporary family life.
