Inspired by a nostalgia for Mediterranean holidays, Crescent House is characterised by a sculptural grouping of forms set on a steep and rocky site with a broad view back to the city. White-washed, textured walls are combined with carefully placed openings to create a simple play of light and shadow through the interior.

The project’s conceptual framework continued our exploration of architecture as a form of geography making. The original house had characteristics of a utilitarian 1940’s brick build, and did not realise the potential for living spaces to open to a rear garden, nor capture the expansive city views and daylight. The new house is an alterations and additions working onto the existing house envelope and this memory is present in the projecting shapes of the newly formed street façade.

Masonry walls are rendered with texture throughout the project both internally and externally to unite living spaces across outdoor terraces. The thick and textured walls lend the interior a robust quality and contrast with crafted internal timber detailing at thresholds, wall panelling, and exposed-rafter ceilings.  Simple honed concrete floors are another foil for the play of light within the interior. Endicott stone floors bring warmth through their imperfect shapes, while moments of rustic oak timberwork lend tactility. The house provides a serene but engaging backdrop for a creative family with growing children and frequent guests, balancing communal areas for entertainment with places for calm retreat.

Outline Brief

• 350m² built floor area
• Entry courtyard with outdoor shower
• Garage at street level with utility room, cellar, and storage
• Studio apartment at and intermediate level with kitchenette and ensuite
• Landscaped garden terraces from street level to living level
• Living & dining, kitchen, pantry, laundry, powder room, second Living, terrace & BBQ, garden, pool
• Upper level with 3 bedrooms, bathroom, study, main bedroom with wardrobe, ensuite, and terrace

Particular design elements

• Tall sandstone-cut landscape wall framing the entry courtyard. Courtyard designed as an intermediate arrival space with a shade tree and an outdoor shower for returning from Bondi beach
• Landscaped garden terraces and sculptural external stairs connecting the street to the entry at Living level
• Framed views to the city from the living and dining areas
• Thick masonry walls rendered with textures of southern European holidays, casting light and shade, lending the feeling of a substantial home for many generations
• Second living cosy, with distinct introverted character for retreat or immersive sound or movies
• Double height space connecting the living level kitchen social space to the upper-level kids bedrooms and study
• Framed view from the upper level across the double height void, through the roof terrace planting to the city
• Landscaped rear garden designed for outdoor entertaining, with sculptural pool set into verdant planting
• Main bedroom roof terrace oriented for the sun and city views. Quirky cactus planting
• Generous garage, utility storage and laundry for family living
• Given the steep site with Living spaces around 10 meters above the street entry, a lift has been sensitively integrated into the design to be almost indetectable

Materials

• Primary structural elements being: concrete slab on ground, reinforced concrete walls, suspended slabs, cavity brick walls, steel and timber framed roof.
• Masonry walls consistently rendered throughout the project internally and externally to unite living spaces across outdoor terraces. The rough-textured render lends the interior a robust, carefree atmosphere, a backdrop to introduced personal and crafted items and colour - curated by Shona and Design Daily in collaboration. Textured render was applied meticulously by a bespoke rendering tradesperson.
• Painted timber beams are exposed through the living and bedroom level ceilings, adding scale to rooms and a pleasing varied fall of light through the ceiling plane.
• The living room and upper level have honed soft-grey concrete floors with subtle aggregate exposure.
• The kitchen and terrace are united by natural Endicott crazy-paved flagstones.
• Solid oak and oak veneer cabinets are used at key joinery elements.
• Painted timber doors and windows.
• Venetian render and natural stone tiles throughout bathrooms.
• Natural stone bathroom counters and basins, aged brass fittings