A house growing out of its site

We have been lucky enough to have a client with the vision to let us explore some exciting planning and formal ideas in this house proposed for a site in Seaforth.

The concept grew from the experiences of walking along and amongst the sandstone headlands around Sydney Harbour, where the edges of the headlands break down into boulders and crevices that afford views out through the sandstone, create cool shadows to sit amongst and have dappled canopies of Angophoras overhead.

The plan form, materials, light + ventilation within the house echo the character of these natural rock out crops with chasms and schisms which are remnant in the area.

Materials are to be low embodied energy, natural materials with no applied surface finishes where possible. Weathering to an aged patina will be encouraged on the exterior.

The landscape design is integrated with the concept and grows from the existing site conditions – a number of large trees are retained as the basis of the landscape. A lush garden is created to the front in the shade of established trees and a more rugged low maintenance garden extends out of the house to the plateau edge.