Located in one of Sydney’s Heritage Conservation area, the site is in a unique Sydney bush setting, 3km’s from the city of Sydney. The house opens to the bush reserve while complimenting the heritage houses surrounding the site with a contemporary design that embraces the site, the reserve and heritage neighbours.

The House is designed as the gateway to the reserve below and becomes a structure that belongs to the bush. The House is also designed as a podium to the heritage property above and to the south. The structure was massed with concrete block buttresses at either end rising from the existing heritage stone wall. The buttresses embrace a timber framed centre which, together with the horizontal roof forms, with a raised centre forming clerestory windows, creates a light and airy treehouse feel.

The house has purposefully used a minimal building palette of face concrete blocks, black stained timber and black zinc to become part of the bush setting. These same materials return inside to bring a greater indoor outdoor connection.
The House is designed with two distinct areas; the service core running along the southern boundary containing entry, stairs and bathrooms; and the living core facing north containing four bedrooms on the ground floor and living, dining and kitchen on the upper level. The house is inverted from the typical arrangement. The living rooms on the first floor take advantage of the roof volume, solar access and bush views leaving the bedrooms on the ground floor to enjoy more privacy.

The north facing aspect and features like roof overhangs, shutters, materials used, and rainwater tanks are examples of the sustainability initiatives seamlessly integrated to reduce energy consumption.

The end result is a new residence with simple forms with high detail that has a raw and refined sensibility.