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 strengthened connections to light, sky and views from various spaces. Two design options developed within feasibility studies respond to various signifiers within the client brief. Option 1 offers a formally singular volumetric expression and response to its place, while Option 2 orchestrates the program within a composition of two split and shifted volumes - with both options offering a stair circulation zone and northern courtyard for access 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 incorporates explorations of cladding systems inclusive of vertical timber boards and staggered stone ‘shingles’ in various arrangements, fine black steel elements to front and rear roof & wall edges, black aluminium framed doors & windows, timber lined walls and joinery to particular interior spaces, custom concrete wall, bench and step elements externally, and terracotta floor finishes inside and out at the rear.

Date: 2019 -
Location: Greenwich, Sydney

Model: Christopher Polly Architect
Model Photography: Christopher Polly Architect