The site is located on a quiet street in Bellevue Hill, upon which sit two established, protected Jacaranda trees. These very trees are central to the architectural design, both in concept and physical placement of the actual building. The core concept for the house is derived from a large cubic volume which overlaps the front Jacaranda tree. This cubic volume is then carved away at various levels by a series of stylized curves around the tree canopy. The front boundary is defined by a low-scale sandstone wall enhancing the streetscape. With the house set back from the street, the Jacaranda tree can be appreciated from the public domain.
Organic forms are embraced with interplay between straight lines and curves throughout the house. One such example is the sculptural room divider on level three, where curves maintain a sense of interconnection and movement whilst defining intimate internal living zones. This same structure also contains a hidden Study, as well as service risers from the plant room below.
Conceived as a light-filled airy space, the double-height Living room on level three maintains a strong connection with the Jacaranda tree through a large wall of operable windows. The void over the formal Living room brings the curves deeper into the floor plan, visually connecting it to the Library and Study above on level four. The circumference of the void sets up the Study joinery which gently peels away at the tangent. Floating 6.5m above the main Living room, the cantilevering post-tensioned concrete roof structure reaches towards the tree canopy, lightly tracing it while providing shelter over the Verandah below.
Two key aspects of the Client’s brief were “aging in place”, and consideration for their established art collection. To ensure horizontal and vertical mobility, there are on-grade thresholds and lift access at every level. Bedrooms and bathrooms on the top level are suitably sized and adaptable to accommodate future mobility aids. A Carer’s room and Exercise room are included on level two. On the Street level, the main pedestrian entry features a 17m long art gallery before leading to the main staircase. Here, the ceiling curves dramatically upwards to reveal larger works and on level three, offset parallel walls running along the main site axis allow for more art to be displayed.
Although generously sized, the house mitigates scale by retaining the natural ground plane by partially concealing two of the four storeys. Consistent with the surrounding context, the front boundary is elevated at 3m above street level and the terrain gradually rises another 3m northeast towards the rear boundary. As the site was entirely covered with sandy soil, consideration was given to the construction sequencing to retain the site boundaries and support the house structure.
This home utilises an array of sustainability initiatives and is equipped with a high-volume rainwater harvesting system, combined photovoltaic and hydronic solar panels, passively cooled air supply for the plant room, provisions for battery and car charging, double- glazing and carefully considered high performance lighting throughout.
Material Used :
External Walls:
1. Worldstone Masonry
2. Murobond mineral silicate paint, with sand
3. Sculptform blackbutt timber with Sorrento Profile – Expression Cladding
4. Symonite aluminium cladding
5. Stone façade cladding was repurposed from the original building and reused
Internal Walls:
6. Plasterboard painted in Dulux and Porters Paints
Flooring:
7. Di Lorenzo porcelain floor tiles
8. Delsa ceramic floor tiles
