Bilgola Plateau. Garigal Country

Built: Steedman Constructions

Photographers: Georges Antoni

Perched above an ancient forest of thousand-year-old Angophora trees with views over Pittwater, Plateau Project embodies the natural tones and materiality of the land that surrounds it. A simple internal palate of microcement and raw concrete draw warmth and reflect light. A wandering wall greets you as you enter, leading quietly around a deep curve to a dramatic reveal of soaring ceilings and exposed rafters. A raked ceiling delivers expansive views over bushland out to the water.

The house plays with shape and volume. Curves and lines, confinement and expanse collaborate to create a bold statement of opposites whilst creating cohesion and fluidity at the same time.

A winding cavernous hallway playfully hides what lies beyond, curving around and delivering you to a fortress-like turret with brick and masonry walls, smooth with soft light and a sculptural steel hand-rail leading you upstairs to the sleeping quarters.

Residing in a BAL-FZ flame zone, the home has been built with non-combustible materials, fit with bushfire shutters as well as steel frames and windows. Bespoke aerated concrete features throughout the design from bathroom tiling to a custom cast dining table which seats 10. Vein-cut travertine benchtops rest atop scalloped concrete detailing in the kitchen and breakfast nook.

Plateau Project is punctuated by materials and angles creating moments – solid and soft, bold and light.

Clareville, Sydney. Garigal Country.

Built: Hampton Constructions

Photographer: Anson Smart

On the leafy shoreline of Clareville Beach, this new residential dwelling recedes behind a green canopy cascading from the rooftop down and growing up from below blurring the lines between outside and in. Hints of Brazilian Modernism are seen in the concrete form with deep drawn-out eaves, voids and openness.

The underlying principal for M House was to create a restful and private family home that receded into the landscape using immersive planting from the rooftop cascading down, visible from every room, as well as planting from the ground up. Encouraging nature to envelop the structure, blurring lines between outside and in allows the home to disappear behind the greenery providing privacy and tranquillity.

The feeling of being outside yet still being sheltered by a formative structure was key – this is where we played with the idea of hard and soft. Hard is represented in the Brazilian modernist design with concrete, stone and tallowwood. The result is a solid structure with large eaves creating a safe shelter in which to recede.

The soft is exemplified with light, voids, landscape and glass. The soft allows the strong shelter to become one with the trees, plants and water surrounding the home.

Awards

2023 New South Wales Architecture Awards | Residential Houses (New) |Shortlist

2023 Australian Interior Design Awards | Residential Design | Shortlist

2023 Houses Awards | New House Over 200 m2 | Shortlist

2023 INDE Awards | The Living Space | Shortlist

2023 IDEA Awards | Residential Single | Shortlist

Avalon Beach, Sydney. Garigal Country

Built: Timber Tales

Photography: Simon Whitbread

The Loft project was designed to satisfy a simple brief, secure off-street parking and a provide accommodation and/or a multipurpose workspace. The challenge was to integrate the bulk of the building upon the existing parking provisions located already well forward on the site without the stacked form seeming over-barring, overly dominant or detracting from the character of the existing street scape of this leafy Avalon Beach residential street.

We achieved this with a simple gable form as a way to keep the wall heights low on the sides of the building, whilst providing a usable and spacious attic-style space above. Construction detailing and the use natural materials created a simple monolith sitting above a sandstone podium. The sandstone was reclaimed from the foundations of the original residence and the choice of a dark mono-tone colour palette was chosen to blend as a backdrop within the leafy setting. Matt finish standing seam Monument Roof sheeting and Painted Eco-ply board & batten wall cladding was detailed, aligning and unifying the vertical and horizontal surfaces creating a camouflaging rhythmic stripe and textural finish all over.

Queenscliff, Sydney. Garigal Country

Build: Liebke Projects

Photo: Simon Whitbread

This project was an alterations and additions to an existing Art Deco Heritage House on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Our aim was to celebrate the honest red brick vernacular of this 5 bedroom home but boldly modernise and open the inside using void spaces, large windows and heavy structural elements to allow an open and flowing living area to the rear. The goal was to create a sense of harmony with the existing heritage elements and the modern interior, whilst also highlighting the distinction of the new from the old. So while we embraced the brick facade in its material and scale, we sought to differentiate the new through the use of colour, scale and form.

Newport, Sydney. Garigal Country

Built: Waterview Constructions

Photography: Simon Whitbread

North-facing and tucked away at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac stands a striking recycled brick façade forming the exterior of a house presenting back-to-front. Behind a cedar front door is an expansive open floor plan living, dining and kitchen area. The internal walls are clad with milk-washed ply sheeting and floors are oak. A white v-groove kitchen is defined by the 5 meter long island bench made from ceasarstone, oak and simple polyurethane joinery.

Viewing the home from the back gives an entirely different angle revealing an expressed steel structure painted in a micaceous oxide paint with vertical black cladding grounded by sandstone. An oversized black picture window in the master bedroom provides an expansive view over Newport Beach and the treetops below.

Church Point, Sydney. Garigal Country

Builder: Elo Silo

Photography: Toby Peet

Located on a steep terrain in heavy bushland on Garigal Country in Church Point, the design evolved around the concept of repurposing used shipping containers into a small yet bespoke family home. The expression of raw industrial materials within a bush landscape enveloped by native flora became the cornerstone of the design. The project faced challenges including restrictive bushfire controls, protection of native trees and difficult access but the finished build demonstrates how beautiful and functional an unnatural element can reside within a wild and natural place.

Whale Beach, Sydney. Garigal Country

Built: Peninsula Projects

Photo: Simon Whitbread

Facing east with idyllic views over Whale Beach in Sydney's Northern Beaches, this residential family home is a cross between beach bungalow and coastal plantation styled architecture. With an east to west connection, timber details and weather board cladding, this home is staggered up the hill from the garage and cellar at street level, living quarters on the natural ground mid-level and bedrooms and office above, capturing the views out to the ocean and surrounds.

Stone floors anchor this home to the natural slope of the land while a four metre timber ceiling soars above the main living and dining area allowing the sea breeze and natural light to fill the space. Rich timbers, earthy materials and a sense of openness define the interiors with influences of African styling bringing the home together.

Newport Beach, Sydney. Garigal Country

Built: Williams Building Company

Photography: Toby Peet

Simple and timeless coastal architectural details define this weatherboard home with timber trim details, metal sheet roofing and a sandstone base anchoring the home into the ground. This was a tricky alterations and additions to an existing coastal brick home, utilizing the existing footprint. An infinity edge pool celebrates the views east and north with glass balustrading bringing the view from the outside in to the internal spaces. The internal spaces are light and fresh with oak floors, v-groove walls and ceilings, with an emphasis on maximizing natural light.

Balgowlah Heights, Sydney. Garigal Country

Built: Williams Building Company

Photography: Simon Whitbread

In this bold residential project we explore the relationship between new extension and existing dwelling, drawing a line in the sand as a cost saving strategy, allowing all that was good to remain. A new modern form is linked by a louvred bridge, minimising the labour intensive exercise of matching type for type. The modern form is celebrated in its simplicity and in its juxtaposition to the original the red brick cottage. The use of white painted recycled bricks further highlights the monoliths, celebrating the functionality of modern architecture, and capturing the ease and casual nature of a young family and the notion that we don’t necessarily need decadent materials, or more ‘stuff’ to enhance our lifestyle.

Rose Valley, NSW South Coast. Tharawal Country

Builder: Kye Furlong - Saltbox Building

Photography: Simon Whitbread

This beautiful farmhouse is located in the South Coast hills of Rose Valley, near Gerringong. Surrounded by farm land and framed by two fig trees, the architecture is a contemporary response to a traditional farmhouse consisting of a large family home and a detached garage and studio. The home is C-shaped to have an internal courtyard protected from the elements whilst creating the adult and children wings off a large family area.

A wrap around balcony captures stunning views and the hardwood trusses sitting atop recycled brick piers highlight traditional materials including weatherboard cladding, timber windows and metal sheet roofing.

Manly, Sydney.

Built: Abora Constructions

Photography: Simon Whitbread

Celebrating the timeless iconic coastal home, this new build overlooks the Bower in Manly. This stunning white weatherboard and Sydney sandstone home steps down the site and is set on different levels. A central staircase divides the main living level with the kitchen, dining and lounge at the front capturing the views to the north and the living on the south connecting the backyard and pool. At the top of the stair, 4 gable roof structures join to create a dramatic expression of rafters and beams, with integrated skylights pouring natural light down to the lower level. The finishes are light and fresh allowing the natural light to reflect throughout.

Bungan Beach, Sydney. Garigal Country

Builder: Waterview Constructions

Photography: Simon Whitbread

Located on North Bungan Headland looking south and east, this project was an alterations and additions to an existing family home. The site proved challenging with various levels and tricky access.

The intent was to capture the stunning views and create a seamless indoor/outdoor connection. A raked ceiling opened the entire home and the use of soft whites and sandstones anchor the home into its natural coastal setting.

Avalon Beach, Sydney. Garigal Country

Built: Williams Building Company

Photo: Toby Peet

Located on the headland dividing Avalon and Bilgola Beach, this family home captures panoramic views to the north east and south. With a shallow depth of site on a cliff face, the site constraints were quite considerate.

The intent of the building was to age and sit gracefully on the prominent headland using traditional weatherboards, metal sheet roofing, and timber treatments and detailing throughout. The design is defined by a large void which captures the view east and divides the living quarters from the bedrooms. Interiors are a mix of soft white timber with darker earthy colours to harmonise and blend with the natural surrounds.

Freshwater, Sydney. Garigal Country

Built: Adam De Stoop

Photography: Simon Whitbread

A small and delicate alterations and additions to an existing family home, the brief was to design within the existing footprint and roof. The challenge was to maximise floor space, ceiling heights and reducing construction costs. This was achieved through split levels and a simple pallet of concrete floors, aged timbers and painted brick. White painted weatherboards and galvanized roof sheeting create a country cottage feel within a beachy suburb.

Bayview, Sydney. Garigal Country

Built: Moneghittie Built

Photography: Simon Whitbread

This secondary dwelling constructed in leafy Bayview is compact, only 80m2 with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a laundry and a wrap around deck screened in for mosquito protection. The design posed challenges with trees and compliance including a sewer main sitting directly beneath the block. The result is a stunning, durable, low maintenance timber structure with steel frame and FC sheeting.

Avalon Beach, Sydney. Garigal Country

Built: Moneghittie Built

Photography: Simon Whitbread

Regal, solid and perfectly framed by towering gum and palm trees, Tring Manor is an elegant and stately home defined by its steep raked roof, angled peaks and board and baton detailing.

The north-facing home is set back far from the street capturing shadows and sunlight, brightening the striking black façade. There’s something historic, iconic and timeless about the home, as if it’s existed in its current form for generations, and yet, it has a distinct modern disposition highlighted by the rich, dark exterior.

The original stately brick home was built in the 1930s in the Arts and Crafts style and the alterations merged the original double gabled roof into a single prominent peak highlighted by symmetric white windows. The original brick structure and façade was extended using new brick and a sponge render was applied and painted black.

The bushy block is home to a sanctuary of established native trees that restricted the expanded footprint and informed the landscaping including a pool, terraced front garden and garage with a studio above.

Mona Vale, Sydney. Garigal Country.

Builder: Evolution

Narrabeen Lake, Sydney. Garigal Country

Builder: Waterview Constructions Pty Ltd

Photography: Simon Whitbread

Narrabeen lake offers a calming and tranquil environment that differs from the nearby coastline. Lake House looks to connect to that tranquility with a podium like living space stepping down to the rear yard that spills onto the lake. Although challenged with High Flood Hazard controls, the success of the design is in the flow from street to backyard through a centralised entry leading through the body of the home to the rear entertaining space facing East over the lake.

Traditional in form and layout, the family home uses the lightweight construction on brick piers, weatherboard and metal roof sheet claddings, and a soft colour palette juxtaposed with hardy landscapes.