We explore our favourite examples of outdoor fireplaces to transform your backyard into a warming and relaxing place to retreat to.
A practical solution to spending more time in our backyard or courtyard, outdoor fireplaces can create an equally striking and inviting place to congregate. In the spirit of making the most of our outdoor spaces, we’ve rounded up a collection of outdoor fireplaces to have you rethinking your typical entertaining set-up.
Tribute House by Luigi Rosselli Architects and Alwill Interiors | Landscape Design by William Dangar and photography by Prue Ruscoe.
The Brick Home of Diane Keaton
Tucked away in the Sullivan Canyon on the outskirts of LA, Diane Keaton’s home features a built-in outdoor fireplace made with the same 18th-century recycled brick used throughout. This custom outdoor fireplace is concealed behind a glazed steel-frame casement window that matches the rest of the industrial-style steel-frame openings in the home.
Glen Osmond Residence by Williams Burton Leopardi
Glen Osmond Residence by Adelaide designers Williams Burton Leopardi sees the spatial reconfiguration of a heritage home in Adelaide’s east. Designed for a family of seven, the large home embraces entertaining and familial gatherings at its core with a seamless indoor-outdoor dining and living setup. Embedded within a polished plaster chimney, the simple rectangular outdoor fireplace acts as a central point in the patio to gather year-round.
Dunes by Whiting Architects
The Dunes brief was for a functional home by the beach that could cater to multigenerational living. Whiting Architects responded with a connected three-storey family home with a series of outdoor spaces and a designated entertaining area and outdoor fireplace. Framed in weathered timber cladding, the outdoor fireplace provides a sheltered place for retreat when the coastal weather gets rough.
Sheffield Residence by Of Possible
Sheffield Residence by Of Possible merges the traditional New England style of the region with contemporary architecture. Rooms throughout the home unfold out to the manicured garden, including the main living area that opens up directly to the east-facing outdoor terrace, framing the original apple orchard on the property. The suspended fireplace pivots 360 degrees, creating a focal point with a unique silhouette, offering a place to appreciate the picturesque surroundings in the cooler months.
Albert Park home by Robson Rak
Robson Rak needed to address both the existing home’s weatherboard facade and former stables at the rear in this heritage alteration and addition in Albert Park, Melbourne. Paying homage to the home’s roots, the traditional wood stove outdoor fireplace with exposed chimney creates drama and contrast with the red brick.
Erskine House by Kennedy Nolan
Gracing the cover of our most recent magazine, issue #38, Kennedy Nolan’s Erskine House harbours cohesion between indoor and outdoor spaces. A wall of full-height glass overlooks the courtyard, where a sculptural bagged-brick outdoor fireplace takes centre stage. Ash coloured exterior bricks and crazy paving create a sense of unison when combined with the soft grey painted chimney, tying in with the home’s colourful and eccentric interior.
Opposites Attract by Pipkorn and Kilpatrick
Pipkorn and Kilpatrick reimagined a Californian Bungalow in Elwood through a courageous large-scale rear addition. Overlooking the pool and barbecue area, this custom bluestone-clad outdoor fireplace makes for an inviting entertainment zone after dark.
Oblique House by Studio Niels | Photography by Thomas De Bruyne
The Tribu Pure Sofa in Castlecrag by Polly Harbison Design | Landscape design by Bates Landscape and photography by Brett Boardman
