On what is a steep and west facing site, bisected by a six metre high sandstone cliff, the brief required a house with a visual and physical connection to the bay and the site itself, with a need to manage light, outlook, the cliff face and the descent to the water's edge.
The upper level was built to allow for independent occupation, while the lower levels would accommodate a large family as required.
DESIGN DESCRIPTION
Located on the eastern edge of Pittwater, the site is dominated by a sandstone cliff that runs parallel to the bay.
An adjacent development sits above the cliff with a memorable outlook, and the decision to site the building below and against the cliff allows the primary connections to the site to be actively managed.
The entry sits below the road and leads onto a courtyard which is protected by the upper level and filters outlook and light.
Descending to the lower levels, the house and landscape are assimilated so that the cliff becomes the inner face. The building is dependent on the landform and it forms a scaffold to the rock face.
The house is thin - only one room wide - so that the qualities of the cliff and filtered western light imbue the interiors.
Passive solar and thermal principles are utilised through operable perforated screens and at the interface with the cliff, allowing sun, the thermal mass of the rock, and convection through the building to be regulated.
Structural repetition enables cost efficiency as the building is a three storey hardwood frame expressed internally and pinned lightly to the cliff. It is clad with galvanised steel and promotes a rough-to-smooth ecology, similar to the logic of an oyster.
ACCOLADES
RAIA (NSW) Awards,Wilkinson Award Excellence in Residential Architecture 2012
RAIA National Award for Residential: Houses 2012
Australian Timber Design Awards Winner Residential Class 1 New Buildings 2012
Australian Timber Design Awards (ACT & NSW) Winner Best Central Region 2012
Houses Magazine Houses Awards, New House over 200smq, High Commendation 2012
Master Builders Association Excellence in Housing Award ($2.5 - $3 million) 2012
Housing Industry Association Awards, Custom Built Home $2.5 - $5 million Winner 2012
PRODUCTS
BATHROOM TAPS
BRODWARE INDUSTRIES, CITY STIK AND CITY PLUS
BATHROOM BASINS
DURAVIT, VERO
WCS
VILLEROY & BOCH, SUBWAY
BATH
DECINA BATHROOMWARE, COOL
FLOOR HEATING
PROGRESSIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS, GAS BOOSTED HYDRONIC
SLOW COMBUSTION HEATER
NECTRE, MKII
TILES
EXCLUSIVE TILES, 600 X 300 VITRIFIED
TIMBER
BLACKBUTT
FLOORING & LAMINATED BEAMS
AUSTRALIAN ARCHITECTURAL HARDWOODS, RECYCLED BLACKBUTT
PLYWOODS
DMK, HOOP PINE PLYWOOD, FORMPLY LININGS
STAIR TREADS
BIG RIVER GROUP, BLACKBUTT
KITCHEN
WHITE WASHED HOOP PINE PLYWOOD JOINERY, STAINLESS PLATE BENCH TOPS
ROOFING
STRATCO AUSTRALIA, DEEP OCEAN PRODEK
POLYCARBONATE LANTERN
16MM DANPALON OPAL
EXTERNAL CLADDING
BLUESCOPE STEEL, GALVABOND METAL SHEET
INTERNAL WALLS
PLASTERBOARD
GLASS
VIRIDIAN NEW WORLD GLASS, COMFORT PLUS
