Car-borne urban sprawl justifiably draws a lot of criticism, but as this roundup of Australian houses with plenty of living space and leafy gardens shows, the appeal of the suburbs can be hard to deny.

Photo by Katherine Lu

Moon House, Sydney, by James Garvan Architecture

Located in the Sydney suburb of Waverley, this all-white house was designed to reference its neoclassical and Federation-style neighbours.

Brightness and airiness were prioritised inside, with pale limestone floor tiles that extend into the back garden and pool area through sliding glass doors.

Find out more about Moon House ›

Photo by Rory Gardiner

Birdwood, Brisbane, by Peter Besley

Occupied by a multi-generational family, this house meets the street with a simple and largely blank white exterior, screened with a metal mesh that will eventually be covered in foliage.

But at the back, it's a completely different story, with a separate volume containing a double-height living area and library wrapped in a distinctive perforated…