HardieFineTexture Axent REBEKA MORGAN

HardieFineTexture Axent

From Rebeka:
‘What I love about Box Modern homes is how the bold architectural forms are balanced with warmth and livability. It really is about designing homes that are as inspiring as they are practical.’

This handbook will show you how to achieve the Box Modern exterior and interior look and propel your journey forward to creating a Box Modern home. From the signature box shapes, to the flat rooflines, to flexible floorplans and refined interior details, this guide is designed to help you create the ultimate Box Modern home.

Meet your guide
<h2>Rebeka Morgan</h2>

With Rebeka Morgan, BuildHer Collective

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The Box Modern style 'Jessie Street' home, designed by Obi Office for BuildHer Collective, uses Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding with Hardie™ Axent™ trim to reimagine classic board and batten application in a modern context.

Design Handbook 2025

01,Box Modern

Ready to specify Hardie™ fibre cement products in your next project?

Hardie™ exterior cladding is perfectly suited to building Box Modern homes, offering sleek, durable finishes that enhance the clean lines and bold geometry central to this architectural style. Its range of textures and colors allows for dynamic facades, while its durability and fire resistance ensure the home remains low-maintenance and resilient in diverse urban, coastal and rural environments.

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BM Matrix FineTexture Stria

Complementary products

Choosing the right cladding, like the Jesse Street board and batten look, not only elevates the Box Modern design but also streamlines the construction process, offering precision, durability and improved project efficiency.
‘One of our key approaches was to avoid mixing materials to reduce wastage. With the external cladding, we chose a lightweight material that allowed for a more efficient structural system. It's a system that's quicker to install, easy for the team to understand, and doesn't require complex on-site detailing. This approach means we can create a seamless look from ground to roofline, using a single material that gives a higher-end architectural finish.’ says Rebeka.

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‘The reason I like the Box Modern style is that it’s really efficient to build. It is a builder’s dream. It’s a square box on top of a square box with all the walls lining up.’
—Rebeka Morgan, BuildHer Collective

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It offers a refined finish that complements the minimalist aesthetic of Box Modern architecture. The sand-like texture adds a subtle elegance without overwhelming the design.

Box Modern stria cladding

A durable batten for creating a modern board and batten look. Available in 89mm, 70mm or 45mm widths and 19mm or 38mm thickness options, the depth helps to create the impression of solidness and crisp clean edges.

Cladding solutions

Dulux Colorbond® Cove®

Dulux® Natural White

Dulux® Sandy Day

Scheme Two

Dulux Colorbond® Dune®®

Dulux® Manifest

Dulux® White Duck Quarter

Scheme One

Sophisticated shades of black, white and grey define the bold, contemporary, and largely achromatic color palette, offering a timeless and versatile foundation for any Box Modern design. 

Lightweight cladding offers adaptability through paintwork, allowing homeowners to transform their exterior as colour trends evolve. Unlike masonry products, fibre cement cladding enables easy repainting, giving the home a fresh look without significant expense or structural changes. Box Modern homes can remain contemporary and personalised through simple colour updates.

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Colour palette

Love this look and want to create a mood board for your builder, designer or family members?

Upgrading to premium windows and insulation can not only improve energy efficiency in a Box Modern home but also increase the home’s appeal and comfort.
We focused on materials that are designed to last, and that would stand up to harsh Australian conditions. Hardie™ fibre cement products are fire resistant, rot resistant and resistant to damage from moisture and termites. It's also low maintenance, easy to clean and holds on to paint really well, making it a smart choice for lowering maintenance costs over decades.’ says Rebeka.

Box Modern design favours living zones that flow seamlessly, reducing unnecessary barriers and optimising the available square meterage for functionality.
‘It's important that the transition of flow has key moments in it. I think this is picked up really well in the bulking of the house. So if you've got spaces that are able to come out to the boundary and you've got an interesting corridor which has a window that looks through to a view, then you can come down into different spaces that contract and then open up.’ says Rebeka.

Detail of Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding and Hardie™ Axent™ Trim on the second storey balcony of the Box Modern house designed by Obi Office for BuildHer Collective.

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The Ferndale house interior exemplifies Box Modern style with open plan living, a minimal colour palette and elevated material selections. Photo by Elisa Watson. Build by Mazzei.

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The Box Modern Ferndale house by Webster Architecture & Interiors uses horizontal and vertical lines created by Axon™ Cladding and Hardie Axent™ Trim, contrasting elegantly with a timber garage entry. Photo by Elisa Watson. Build by Mazzei.

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A hidden, flat roof line is created using parapet walls, sharp angles and well-defined edges. The capping or guttering can either match the cladding or be used to create an outline to accentuate the box shape. The Jessie Street gutters are overhanging gutters rather than box gutters which can be a huge hidden cost to build.

Flat roofline

Vertical or horizontal cladding or expressed panels create sharp lines to define the box shapes. Touches of other materials like timber or concrete add a unique flair.

 Defined exterior

The cubic form of the home with boxed-in eaves combines with oversized windows with steel frames to facilitate a uniform box effect.

Box shapes

An achromatic palette amplifies facade articulation through use of black, white, grey and dark grey colours. Jessie Street took it all the way down to the ground to have one material that seamlessly going over the whole building.

Achromatic colours

Interiors feature hotel-like elegance with open-frame furniture, an abundance of luxurious materials such as stone countertops, and a refined achromatic colour palette. Rebeka warns of things like spending on hallways that achieves little. If you can condense spaces to have no wasted circulation, you can have another bedroom or a butler's pantry—rooms that sell houses.

Interiors

Design features

01 Box Modern 2025

Delphi, 3 Seater Sofa — classic comfort meets contemporary style, this sofa has a wicker weave for a casual and laidback feel.

The Plants Project, Hana Pot — delicate, white, sand- like speckles on a grey rough finish polystone pot.

Heliconia — A great landscaping plant that maintains its bright green foliage all year round

Stonestyle, Random Basque — This stone is a combination of beige and creamy whites with occasional subdued oranges.

Basil Bangs, Jardin Patio Umbrella — featuring a classical domed shape, luscious fringing and a generous sun coverage.

Exterior

Sussex, Calibre basin mixer—uses the sleek lines and shapes inspired by contemporary architecture to create a simple,
striking homewares.

Autex Acoustics — developed to expand not just our palette but also your design possibilities while working hard to reduce reverberation and control background chatter.

Tretford, goat hair carpet — durable and comes in 60 colour options to match your Box Modern home perfectly.

41Zero42, Clay 41— a solid, full coloured body porcelain with a stucco, pressed clay finish. The earthy texture provides softness and relief.

POLYTEC, Plantation Ash —features a subtle woodgrain embossing
with an overall matt finish.

Interior 2025

Choosing the right furniture and finishing touches is key to creating a cohesive and inviting Box Modern home. 

Complete the look

BuildHer Collective's 'Jessie Street' home, designed by Obi Office, uses a mix of Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding and vertical Hardie™ Axent™ Trim to accentuate the building's height at the rear.

Lifestyle theme - Building Efficiencies

The Box Modern home leverages a streamlined design code, including flat rooflines and a modular grid pattern, which provides simple, cost-effective construction processes while maintaining a custom, luxury feel.

‘The Jessie Street project demonstrates that building efficiencies are about more than saving costs—they’re about creating homes that are: adaptable to evolving family needs, sustainable in their materials and energy use, streamlined in their construction methods without losing quality or style, and low maintenance for long-term savings.’
– Rebeka Morgan, BuildHer Collective

Axon™ Cladding and Hardie™ Axent™ Trim line the interior courtyard of the Box Modern Ferndale house by Webster Architecture & Interiors, with large windows that let ample natural light into the living area. Photo by Elisa Watson. Build by Mazzei.

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Box Modern architecture masterfully embraces natural light by designing spaces that capitalise on aspect and orientation. This approach floods the home with beautiful, natural light, enhancing the living experience while creating a seamless connection between the indoors and the surrounding environment.

‘Tranquil garden spaces are designed to be seen from all aspects of the home through large windows’ says Rebeka.

We need to design for now and for how we want to live but also understand that we cannot predict what the future will bring, so flexibility is a must. The Jessie Street, Box Modern design can be built to change and evolve around the new living norms. A family home that is generational will have many different uses and stages throughout the time, from bustling with little kids, to a teenagers retreat, functional with downsizers and then possibly back to split generational living.

The horizontal lines of Stria™ Cladding Smooth can help to accentuate the cubic forms of Box Modern architecture.

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Building efficiencies in Box Modern design are about more than saving costs—they’re about creating homes that are adaptable to evolving family needs, sustainable in their materials and energy, streamlined in their construction methods without losing quality or style and low maintenance for long-term savings.

The Modern Homes Forecast 2025 identifies four lifestyle themes changing the way we design and build our homes today. Global and local changes are reshaping how we live, and here we show how Box Modern homes are evolving to reflect these shifts.

Lifestyle themes

When choosing materials and textures for a Box Modern home, decisions should focus on simplicity, functionality and authenticity, ensuring they align with the clean, minimalist aesthetic of Box Modern style.

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A new take on the previously cooler Box Modern palette includes soft greens, timbers and textures found in nature.

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Wool carpets in muted tones add sophistication and luxe comfort.

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Use understated European oak from sustainable forests for warmth.

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Artisan natural textured curtains and soft furnishings contrast and balance hard surfaces.

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The organic texture and unique veining of natural stone adds depth and character.

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Opt for glazed ceramic Japanese tiles for bathrooms, kitchens and splashbacks.

Textures such as smooth wood, polished stone and matte finishes minimise visual clutter, promoting mental clarity and relaxation. Additionally, the durability and ease of maintenance of these materials contribute to a stress-free living experience in the Box Modern home, while their ability to regulate temperature and acoustics enhances comfort and overall wellness.

Materials & textures

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Explore Box Modern house styles for 2025 with James Hardie. Discover clean lines, bold geometry, and cost-efficient cladding solutions for modern homes.

Box Modern House Forecast 2025 | James Hardie

Box Modern design features bold, sharp geometric shapes to form a visually striking facade. These designs include the stacked box style, the cube, and the box with angles. The stacked box gives the appearance of multiple shapes stacked on top of one another. The cube emphasises clean, straight lines and is the ultimate form of minimalist modernism. Lastly, the box with angles uses angled windows and sloped roofs to define a visual spectacle. The board and batten technique has emerged as a sophisticated cladding method that transforms the traditional box design. By using strategically placed boards with minimal jointing and carefully applied battens, designers can create a seamless, clean appearance that enhances the Box Modern aesthetic, proving that efficiency and style can coexist in contemporary home design.

The Box Modern style delivers on the need for convenience and privacy. This easily identifiable look is characterised by its sparsity and lack of ornamentation, creating a blank canvas to suit individual preferences. This privacy-driven approach transforms traditional home design by reimagining spatial connections. Designers are strategically repositioning key living spaces to create more intimate environments, moving master suites from front-facing positions to more secluded rear locations with enhanced views of private outdoor spaces. The result is a home that offers a retreat from the external world, providing a sense of sanctuary while maintaining clean, minimalist lines.

Box Modern style continues to grow in popularity due of potential for flexibility and cost effective structural profile in both new builds and renovations.
‘We put it onto a slimline truss system which was still super efficient to build, but gave us a cavity that we could run heating, cooling, ducting. By going through each aspect like that, you can work with the structure and kind of line up the walls, which is a great thing to do.’ says Rebeka.

The modular design allows homeowners to adjust spaces like bedrooms, living areas or fitness zones to suit evolving needs.

‘Jessie Street needs to function for people that have young kids. That includes transitions to backyards, kitchens overlooking spaces, appropriate storage and workflows through the house. If I'm bringing home the shopping, how do I get into the house, put the shopping away, how do I manage people coming into my home from the front door If I've got spaces that are messy. I want them to be zoned in a hidden place because I don't want people to see my mess.’ says Rebeka.

An ancillary dwelling can be interchangeable to meet differing lifestyles and life stages. ‘It had to have that external area for a teenager to be or an art studio or for my son to play drums,' says Rebecca. These multi-purpose spaces provide dedicated zones that can transform from a wellness studio to a self-contained guest area, enabling families to customise their living environment to suit their specific needs.

A facade of Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding and Hardie™ Axent™ Trim are complemented by vertical batten screening for privacy.

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The multi-use ancillary dwelling complements the main house, as seen in this example using Axon™ Cladding painted in the same colour as the main dwelling. 'Jessie Street' home, designed by Obi Office for BuildHer Collective.

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Box Modern design plays with the infinite possibilities of modular design, using bold and sharp geometric shapes to create a striking yet simple façade.

Symmetrical, simple & versatile

1 Minimise material mixing for cost efficiency

Using singular materials throughout your design reduces material wastage, simplifies installation, and lowers costs. Lightweight, uniform cladding systems like the board and batten look created using Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding and Hardie™ Axent™ Trim, allow for faster installation, reducing labor expenses and project timelines. Avoiding complex patterns, custom orders, and excessive cutting prevents unnecessary costs in both materials and workmanship.

2 Optimise floor plans to reduce build costs

Eliminating unnecessary circulation space, such as oversized hallways and inefficient room layouts, reduces square metre costs.
Thoughtful planning ensures rooms are dimensioned to fit standard furniture sizes, eliminating wasted space. The savings from minimising excess space can be redirected toward high-value areas like additional storage or functional enhancements without increasing the overall budget.

3 Focus on high-impact areas to maximise value

Prioritise spending in areas where quality is most visible and impactful, such as kitchens and master suites, while simplifying finishes in secondary spaces. 
By directing the budget to areas that homebuyers value most, such as functional storage, modern kitchens, and durable flooring, you ensure that cost savings do not compromise perceived quality.

4 Design for build efficiency and future savings

Incorporating a streamlined structural approach—such as using standardised materials, avoiding excessive design complexity, and leveraging efficient roof and slab systems—reduces both upfront construction costs and long-term maintenance expenses. Box Modern designs, for instance, reduce construction inefficiencies by minimising structural complexity, eliminating unnecessary customisations, and optimising heating and cooling efficiency.

5 Integrate professional insights for smarter cost decisions

Engaging builders, real estate professionals, and architects early in the design phase allows for cost-saving opportunities to be identified before construction begins. Real estate market insights ensure that design choices align with buyer preferences, maximising resale value while staying within budget. A cohesive design strategy prevents costly mid-project adjustments and ensures that every decision contributes to efficiency and financial prudence.