Description
Situated on a rural allotment and orientated with magnificent water views to the north, an existing 1980’s home occupied the lot. This location provided an opportunistic envelope to demolish the existing and design a new residence maximising free passive solar gain deep into the building via varied high light glazing. The client’s brief was for a modern, contemporary single storey unique home with a “wow factor” to suit the site and meet the needs of an adolescent family. Priorities included a grand entry, large, open centralised living and functional spaces including a wood flame fire and large sewing/storage room. Equally important were river views from the kitchen, a butler’s pantry, and garage access in close proximity to the butler’s kitchen. An alfresco area, spa pool with sheltered external living spaces and connecting fire pit were also pivotal priorities.
Key features
- Concrete Entry bridge spans a 7.8m freshwater pond.
- Intimate Entry with stonework columns, large solid Western Red Cedar timber feature beams, Corten lined planter boxes, large Corten panel pivot door.
- In-situ, off-form, white concrete walls and features, with some walls as high as 4.2m.
- Expansive northerly glass facades rebated and housed into their surrounding finishes & linings.
- Switchable Glass wall in the main bathroom.
- Custom 3.5 x 3.2m skylight in the Alfresco.
- Alucobond parapet cladding machined and installed to wrap around both the top & bottom plates in a single panel.
- Western Red Cedar vertical timber batten cladding with concealed fixings to the Garage exterior walls and Flush Finish Garage Tilt Door.
- Extensive and meticulously laid stonework features throughout the house.
- Custom timber & glass doors, and Zero Clearance cavity slider units with soft close hardware throughout.
- Square set plaster throughout, intricate intersecting details, level 5 ceiling recesses and precision alignment with adjacent finishes.
- Western Red Cedar features such as solid large member feature beams, spaced batten style cladding & lining, ceiling, soffit & wall linings, privacy screens / partitions and joinery features.
- Intricate joinery design and premium material selections.
- Commercial grade integrated heat pump recirculating hot water system, hydronic in-slab heating, ducted air conditioning and ventilation system. Custom supply air registers discretely located within ceiling recesses, joinery kicker recesses and set-in slimline linear grills.
- Unique and oversized Living Room wood heater housed within a stonework surround, on a raised in-situ concrete hearth. The glass door of the fireplace can be retracted for use as an ‘open’ fire. Master Bedroom features a side-by-side ethanol feature fire, located under a stone lined bulkhead.
- Wastewater & stormwater management systems utilised for site irrigation.
- All lighting can be controlled wirelessly and remotely through the Smart Lighting system.
- Audio visual system servicing all Bedrooms, Living, Alfresco and the Media Room.
- Fully automated blinds throughout, housed within ceiling recesses for hidden storage when not in use.
- A unique spa and complex mechanical lid system located in-ground within the Alfresco Patio area. With the lid closed, the Patio appears consistent with the surrounding finish, trafficable to the homeowners as a thoroughfare or extension of the Alfresco or Living Space. At the press of a button, the lid retracts, revealing the Spa beneath. Partnered with the motorised retractable shade / privacy screen on the north, the Spa can be used all year round.
- In-situ, off-form, white concrete Fire Pit & seating area with a frameless glass surround / wind break.
- In-situ, off-form, white concrete planter boxes and Corten steel garden edging.
- BIM technology utilised throughout the design and building phases maximised project understanding and engagement for all parties.
From the very beginning, this home was designed around the way we wanted to live - both now and into the future. Having a disability, it was important that the home be fully automated so I could remain here independently for years to come.
Every decision was made with purpose, from incorporating our cherished 1969 BSA motorbike into the design to creating a timber ceiling and feature lighting that have become some of my favourite elements.
After six years of planning and collaboration, seeing family gathered around the fire while the kids play on the lawn is exactly the vision we dreamed of. It's everything we'd hoped for, and that's why we built this home.