A new two-storey split-level house on a waterfront site cascades a series of private and public rooms in response to its steeply sloping site, landscape setting and harbour views. It provides crafted interpenetrations 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 of four with permanent accommodation for the owners parents.

Pop-out projections in the roof and wall planes expand the envelope to allow strong connections to light, sky and views from various spaces within three feasibility options developed to date in response to various signifiers within the client brief. Option A offers a formally singular volumetric expression in response to its place, Option B orchestrates the program within a composition of two shifted volumes, while Option C draws upon elements of the two prior options and fashions strong connections to northern sky - with all options offering a stair circulation zone and northern courtyard for access to light, ventilation and divergent views at the centre of the house.

The front half in each option accommodates the main entry, main bedroom quarters, powder room, and garaging on the upper level, with kids bedrooms, bathroom and laundry spaces beneath it. The rear half provides main living, kitchen, dining and deep outdoor rooms on the upper level, with grandparent living and sleeping quarters directly connected to a large paved terrace with integral outdoor kitchen facilities below.

It explores various materials systems inclusive of vertical timber boards, staggered stone ‘shingles’ in various arrangements, brickwork in varied bonds and textures, and black steel elements to roof & wall edges - with black aluminium framed doors & windows, timber lined walls & joinery to particular interior spaces, terracotta floor finishes inside and out, and custom concrete wall, bench and step elements externally.

Date: 2019 -
Location: Greenwich, Sydney

Model: Christopher Polly Architect
Model Photography: Christopher Polly Architect