Sydney architecture

The briefCplusC was engaged to replace a dated house in Sydney’s Northbridge with a comfortable new modern home for a family of four. The owners wanted a sustainable and energy-efficient home that celebrated the sparkling Middle Harbour and golf course views. The design brief specified protected and private outdoor living and dining spaces, and a kitchen with a walk-in pantry. The owners wanted a heated swimming pool with swim jets and its own bathroom and steam room. They needed a main bedroom with ensuite, two bedrooms for the children and a guest room. On their wish list was a place to hang artworks and a multipurpose space to use as a craft room or study. They emphasised low-maintenance living with ample storage, a two-car garage... More

Balancing dynamic geometries and rigorous detailing, Moon House is bursting with playfulness and optimism yet grounded in seriousness and ambition. Its airy, voluminous curves capture our clients’ lively personalities and are a contemporary expression of the Federation neighbours, while the highly considered palette and meticulous craftsmanship create a calm, textural backdrop to life and the ever-shifting plays of light. Katherine Lu Katherine Lu Ben and Laura initially engaged us to renovate their Federation-era house in Waverley in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. With a growing family and social lifestyle, their brief asked for an open, spacious ground floor where they could host family and friends. They also wanted thei... More

The down-sizer is by nature an aspirational person, someone who is looking to reinvigorate life by simplifying and refining things to what they feel is really important. So how do you create a space which is free of the clutter and distractions of your old life but is, at the same time, a proud advocate and exhibitor of the possessions and stories which have been collected over a lifetime Anson Smart Anson Smart Anson Smart Anson Smart This project is an exercise in restraint and intentionality, the material palette is calm, the lighting soft and recessed. The architecture is purposefully recessive, it provides a functional backbone to the apartment which in turn allows the amazing views of Sydney Harbour and owner&rsqu... More

In 2015, ARM was given the enormous responsibility and privilege of upgrading the iconic building’s Concert Hall. The project called for modifications that were sensitive and respectful of the heritage building, whilst elevating the acoustics to a world-class standard. Our overarching aim was to upgrade the Concert Hall interior and acoustics to match the brilliance of Jorn Utzon’s exterior and Peter Hall’s interior. Daniel Boud ARM Principal Andrew Hayne describes the three principal goals for the project. “First and foremost, the goal was to improve the acoustics of the Concert Hall. Second, was to improve the functionality of the room itself, to be able to cater for different types of performances and make... More

For some years a Sydney-based family had enjoyed their holidays in a tiny pre-fabricated house on the beachfront lot but had finally outgrown it. They wanted to improve the accommodation and take better advantage of the opportunities of the location and aspect while retaining a relaxed, simple pattern of inhabiting the site.The design response was to retain the open, exposed, and windswept nature of the site, and to allow the envelope of the house to provide privacy, security, and protection from the elements, literally the house as a fence. Prue Ruscoe Prue Ruscoe The desire for a modest and unassuming presentation to the street drove the idea of the house as an object which had weathered in place in the dunes. The slanted roof... More

The River House is an informed assembly of clean lines, warm + textured materials and daring structure all housing a complex brief on a difficult site. The finished product is the result of the collaborative overcoming of many hurdles which ultimately shaped the design as much as the river itself. Caption Caption Caption Caption Caption Caption Caption Caption Caption   More

A 1960’s house has been replaced and reflected by a contemporary version of itself, with a focus that now engages as much on the surrounding garden as it does the panoramic CBD view.The original plan and massing were adapted + literally ‘flipped’ with garden elements to create a more expansive connection from inside to out. Details, fixtures and fittings are sensitive to the original home. Willem Rethmeier Willem Rethmeier Willem Rethmeier Willem Rethmeier Willem Rethmeier More

An extensive renovation to a Lower North Shore dwelling focuses on rebuilding the rear section of the home for a family of six.  Douglas Frost The design incorporates a light funnel above the primary living zone with an aperture to the sky that allows natural light to enter the space throughout the day. Douglas Frost The funnel form, which dominates the rear facade, is clad in timber shingles creating a dialogue with the existing dwelling. Douglas Frost   Additional light apertures have been integrated into the design at key junctions – one for the full height of a three storey stairwell, another one where the old house and the new wing intersect, which occurs over the master bedroom.  Douglas Fros... More

The Mosman House is a ‘Brazilian Modern’ inspired home perched on Sydney Harbour overlooking Taylors Bay. The house mediates between grounded courtyard living on the north and a dramatically cantilevered edge that addresses the enviable water views to the south. A textured and honest palette of concrete, stone, timber and steel creates a timeless and robust backdrop to the interiors, exquisitely executed by Justine Hugh-Jones, as well as the landscape, masterfully curated by William Dangar. The architecture juxtaposes ideas of solidity and intimacy, with lightness and extroversion, all beautifully crafted by the hand of County Constructions for our generous and supportive clients. More

A crafted volume is carefully connected to the retained and refashioned rear of an original 1960’s yellow brick envelope to enact clear planning, cost and environmental values in an articulated binary composition - a cellular and private front to the street, with an open and public rear that expands to its landscape setting.The original bungalow allows the cultural value of its suburban type to be preserved within its locality, while also supporting environmental and budget outcomes. Its interior carefully configures a program of bedrooms and service spaces, with vaulted skylights carved within the original roof expanding several spaces to light and sky. A sharply folding intermediary form spatially unlocks a compressed front hall while all... More