What were the challenges?
The sites position and shape posed interesting siting constraints, being a corner block with two street frontages on a steeply sloping block with skewed boundaries. This along with the client’s briefed scope of spaces and aiming to keep within the statutory building envelop controls proved an exciting challenge. Designing to take in the city view with large walls of glass facing south west whilst achieving the required 6 star energy efficiency measures.
How did you overcome the challenges?
Through the careful positioning of the residence on the site the project came together to really show off its best face on all sides. It has been designed with a large glass curtain wall to the ground and first floor to take in the view to the main frontage. The garage has been positioned to the most practical lowest side on the site on the lower ground floor being elegantly clad and nestled into the earth to allow sufficient home storage without taking up precious ground and first floor area. Siting the living spaces to enjoy a northerly aspect to the ground floor feeding onto a private rear yard and pool terrace. Balancing overall mass on the site with each area to each levels being carefully laid out within function, spatial flow and visual outcomes to provide a well thought out design to provide maximum visual impact with practical application. By researching into latest glazing options for the southwest wall a design solution was found, specifying a double glazed window with low-e, argon gas air gap, and grey tint giving added privacy to the front facade from the street during the daytime.
What are major/great design features?
The stunning cityscape has inspired the overall architecture. Floor to ceiling glass walls to the front facade take in the uninterrupted views as does the roof top terrace. The materiality and colour scheme with use of timber, concrete, zinc and silver travertine blend seamlessly from exterior through to interior. This dramatic cityscape has inspired the overall design, including the rear outdoor living and pool area by creating a visually exciting form with the structure. The form of the first floor bedroom wing cantilevers over this space 3.5m to the North-West to create a covered area to the outdoor living. The pool concept initially came from the client brief to be a modest plunge pool with the idea to view it from the double height lounge room window to make a water feature enjoyed from the inside and outside. The input from the Landscape Architect developed this concept further by increasing the pool to a grander size with a negative edge spa surrounded by splash pool. The pool compliments the architectural form of the home and fits cleverly into the triangulated backyard. The hallway entrance leads on to a beautiful dark oak staircase with minimalistic glass balustrading through which a see-through glass wine cellar can be viewed. Connecting to the central living area / lounge, visitors will be taken by the impressive double height windows that look onto the pool and spa surround. The lounge room’s large volume is balanced by the inclusion of a tall bookcase to the corner that adjoins the double height windows and landscape fireplace with travertine surround. The lounge in this design is one of the key features of the home. It flows spatially from the entry hall and dining area and is visually connected to the first floor mezzanine walkway through its double height volume and to the pool through a north facing glass wall. The lounge room’s large volume is balanced by the inclusion of a tall bookcase to the corner adjoining the large north window and a slot roof window running east west. This is to wash natural light down on to the feature ‘silver travertine’ tiled fireplace wall to the south. The finale to this area is the circular ceiling coffer that provides acoustic soundproofing whilst framing the elegant glass clustered feature lighting.