christopher polly architect

New visualisations of Blue Mountains House showcase its further design development and have now been uploaded in ‘Projects’.

A composition of pre-finished steel, low carbon fibre-cement, and fireproof concrete meet the design performance required of a BAL FZ bushfire attack level, in unison with horizontally-sliding metal mesh screens, fire-rated thermally efficient double glazing, and vertically-retractable motorised screens to enable its envelope to be fully ‘shut down’ when unoccupied. A carefully controlled interior palette of burnished concrete, blackbutt timber boards, brushed stainless steel and galvanised steel reference the hues and tones of its setting while complementing the exterior materials.

It incorporates several off-grid measures including a solar system for power generation, 20,000 litres of underground water storage, under-floor heating, a small wood fire, and a heat recovery system to duct warm fresh air heated by exhaust air as needed.

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Graphical 3d modelling representations have been prepared to enable the process of developing and expressing the material overlays of the interior spaces for an off-grid house in the Blue Mountains.

Durable low maintenance materials serve to complement the exterior material palette while further referencing the diversity of natural grey, brown, and silver tones embodied in the eucalyptus and angophora trees within its surrounding setting.

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Flexion House has been lovingly showcased in a great online feature article published by The Local Project entitled “Design To Be Revered - Flexion House by Christopher Polly Architects”.

This speaks to The Local Project’s confidence in supporting and celebrating exceptional architectural design in the form of visualisations - as well as to the value of renders in bringing to life the ideas and material language of the project in all its detail.

With much gratitude to Matthew Fonda for the stellar visualisations, and to writer Thida Sachathep and the editor at TLP for their representation of the project.

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Unfurled House has been selected as one of ten projects from around the globe within a feature article published by Dezeen entitled “Ten homes with spacious open-plan studies and workplaces”. Many thanks to the writer and editorial team for the inclusion of the house.

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Elevation colour studies have been prepared to highlight alternative combinations of exterior materials for a new off-grid house in the Blue Mountains.

Robust low maintenance materials inclusive of pre-finished steel cladding profiles, low carbon fibre-cement panels, fireproof concrete, and external sliding metal mesh screens all draw upon the variety of natural grey, green, and silver tones embodied in the eucalyptus and angophora trees on site – to enable a complementary dialogue to be forged with its surrounding landscape and to allow the house to sit comfortably within its setting.

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Visualisations of Flexion House have been uploaded in ‘Projects’. The uniquely crafted form of the house bends, extends and shifts in response to the shape of the site, program of rooms, and views to the Cooks River and adjacent park landscape.

It incorporates white brickwork, blackbutt timber boards, black fine steel elements and expansive glazing for strong connections to outdoor spaces and its setting. Dark bronze expanded mesh pivot screens temper direct light and modulate privacy to upper rear balcony & living spaces, while also engaging the rear composition along the riverbank. The interior orchestrates a meticulous overlay of blackbutt timber flooring, wall linings, batten screens and joinery finishes to infuse a singular cohesiveness across ground and upper floor spaces.

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The new year is off to a good start with Christopher Polly Architect having been voted a winner of the Best of Houzz 2022 awards in Design for the practice’s portfolio of projects. 

It’s very gratifying that the work of the practice continues to be well recognised on the back of also having been awarded in 2021 and 2020.

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Modelling of a new off-grid house in the Blue Mountains draws geometric reference from the clients’ love of the abstract formal qualities of early modernist houses by Charles Gwathmey and Myron Goldfinger.

Based on a 4m x 3.8m structural grid, the design pin-wheels a series of private and public rooms around a central courtyard to provide a modest internal floor area of 100 sqm with a low environmental footprint of only 129 sqm on the site. Pop-up roof projections at each corner amplify the pin-wheel to offer expanded volumes and varying connections to tree canopies and sky views.

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Archello has published the “25 Best Architecture Firms in Sydney” and it’s a great thrill and privilege for my practice to have been selected for inclusion amongst a stellar group of architecture practices producing great work in Sydney. 

Many thanks to the editorial team and writer at Archello for the recognition.

Sketch design concepts have been prepared for a new off-grid house in the Blue Mountains region west of Sydney.

It enables strong connections to its surrounding landscape and vast views of the escarpment and mountains beyond, while also allowing its entire envelope to be fully ‘shut down’ when unoccupied. A robust low maintenance palette of materials provide long term durability and make reference to the various grey and silver tones of the eucalypt and angophora trees on site.

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Sketch design concepts were recently prepared for new work and adjustments to the interior and exterior at Darling Point Penthouse, inclusive of new built-in bench seating in stacked and patterned brickwork at one of the terrace.

It’s a rare and lovely opportunity to continue working with a stellar client and to be able to re-visit a built design with a view to further enriching their much cherished home.

Visualisations of National House have been uploaded in ‘Projects’. The design makes geometric and elemental references to neighbouring houses of its immediate context while also alluding to the formal qualities of various compact housing types in Japanese, Dutch and Belgian inner urban neighbourhoods.

Its exterior is predominantly articulated by a ‘jacket’ of charred timber cladding, black aluminium glazed doors & windows, black metal hoods, and black standing seam metal roofing for a restrained and singular external expression in counterpoint to its neighbours. Internally, a composition of certified ash timber walls and joinery, black steel, terracotta, and burnished concrete create a series of warm and pared-back spaces.

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Sketch design concepts have been prepared for new work at Cosgriff House, inclusive of this design option in its two principal elevations.

A periscopic addition over the original fabric makes an appropriate homage to the established geometries of the original roof form while also referencing particular edge details of the previously designed rear addition – for an ongoing design dialogue that enables new activation to the street frontage and strengthened connections to the large jacaranda and sky & district views to the rear. 

The new work also entails an in-ground concrete pool sensitively inserted within the established rear garden.

Visualisations of Greenwich House have been uploaded in ‘Projects’. The proposal provides crafted inter-penetrations of space and light across its multiple half-levels, and offers a multi-generational model in its spatial organisation to enable room for a growing family with permanent accommodation for the owner’s parents.

Its formal geometry is expressed as two distinct volumes separated by an open courtyard along the northern edge, and bridged by a glazed stair circulation zone for access to light, ventilation, and divergent interior views at the centre of the house. An ‘up-ticked’ rear and several considered pop-out projections in the roof and wall planes expand the envelope to allow enhanced connections from various spaces to sky and views.

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