From Asbestos-Ridden Shack to Award-Winning Pad With Killer Views
Step inside this award-winning North Curl Curl home that consists of split-level pods built around a sandstone cliff
Georgia Madden
28 January 2022
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or build each week. Here, Stephen Mallinger, director at building firm Mallinger Constructions, shares the fascinating story of creating a multi split-level home on an incredibly steep and rocky site, all in an effort to capture views of the ocean and city skyline.
Images by Barton Taylor.
Answers by Stephen Mallinger, director at Mallinger Constructions.
Who lives here: A family
Location: North Curl Curl, NSW
Size of the house: Around 400 square metres
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Five bedrooms, four bathrooms
Number of levels: Four
Budget: Around $2 million
Architect: Andrew Donaldson of Andrew Donaldson Architecture & Design
Builder: Mallinger Constructions
Answers by Stephen Mallinger, director at Mallinger Constructions.
Who lives here: A family
Location: North Curl Curl, NSW
Size of the house: Around 400 square metres
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Five bedrooms, four bathrooms
Number of levels: Four
Budget: Around $2 million
Architect: Andrew Donaldson of Andrew Donaldson Architecture & Design
Builder: Mallinger Constructions
How would you describe this house?
It’s a knockdown-rebuild of an old asbestos-ridden shack to create a contemporary, multi-level home with ocean views. The house is positioned at one of the highest points in Curl Curl.
Is 2022 the year you build your dream home? Find a builder near you on Houzz
It’s a knockdown-rebuild of an old asbestos-ridden shack to create a contemporary, multi-level home with ocean views. The house is positioned at one of the highest points in Curl Curl.
Is 2022 the year you build your dream home? Find a builder near you on Houzz
Ground-floor plan.
Can you tell us the story of the house?
Our client had purchased a spectacular, but very inhospitable, site when they contacted us.
They were in love with the panoramic views of Sydney from the upper levels of the site, which stretched from Dee Why Head to Bondi Junction. But the 17-metre rise from the street posed a unique design challenge, including a 3.5-metre projecting sandstone cave and a 4.5-metre vertical sandstone wall between the street and top, combined with exposed southern orientation.
Can you tell us the story of the house?
Our client had purchased a spectacular, but very inhospitable, site when they contacted us.
They were in love with the panoramic views of Sydney from the upper levels of the site, which stretched from Dee Why Head to Bondi Junction. But the 17-metre rise from the street posed a unique design challenge, including a 3.5-metre projecting sandstone cave and a 4.5-metre vertical sandstone wall between the street and top, combined with exposed southern orientation.
First-floor plan.
What was your brief?
To create wow factor, while catering to the realities of family life.
What was your brief?
To create wow factor, while catering to the realities of family life.
Second-floor plan.
What did you do?
Our design solution centred on drawing these spectacular elements into the architecture as integral parts of the composition.
The design fragments, with each piece of the architecture capturing panoramic ocean views to the southeast, and reaching for precious northern sunlight from the rear. All are linked by circulation and courtyards that celebrate the natural landscape.
What did you do?
Our design solution centred on drawing these spectacular elements into the architecture as integral parts of the composition.
The design fragments, with each piece of the architecture capturing panoramic ocean views to the southeast, and reaching for precious northern sunlight from the rear. All are linked by circulation and courtyards that celebrate the natural landscape.
Third-floor plan.
We fused together key spaces with key site features; the living wing hovering over the sandstone cave, an internal courtyard organised around the flanking sandstone cliff, and a family room and backyard space high at the northern, green level of the site.
External circulation is celebrated, meandering at the most minimal grade possible along the driveway, past the guest house, back under the cave, swooping up its side to the main house entry, at which point you first glimpse the panorama.
We fused together key spaces with key site features; the living wing hovering over the sandstone cave, an internal courtyard organised around the flanking sandstone cliff, and a family room and backyard space high at the northern, green level of the site.
External circulation is celebrated, meandering at the most minimal grade possible along the driveway, past the guest house, back under the cave, swooping up its side to the main house entry, at which point you first glimpse the panorama.
Street view of the house.
Upon entering the house, the sandstone cliff is immediately framed. You can see the ocean panorama through corner windows to the southeast. The gentle circulation continues up an internal hill around the natural courtyard, culminating in the family and external living areas above, which are linked to the landscape.
Upon entering the house, the sandstone cliff is immediately framed. You can see the ocean panorama through corner windows to the southeast. The gentle circulation continues up an internal hill around the natural courtyard, culminating in the family and external living areas above, which are linked to the landscape.
Bird’s eye view of the house.
The subtly split terrace levels in the house gently respond to the site’s natural topography, both internally and externally.
The subtly split terrace levels in the house gently respond to the site’s natural topography, both internally and externally.
The home’s entry on the second level.
What was your thinking behind the choice of materials?
The material language of concrete, black zinc, timber and glass celebrates the architectonic organisation of the whole. It hints at the function of each element in isolation and references the immediate material palette of the site – landscape, sandstone and water. Each material will improve with age.
What was your thinking behind the choice of materials?
The material language of concrete, black zinc, timber and glass celebrates the architectonic organisation of the whole. It hints at the function of each element in isolation and references the immediate material palette of the site – landscape, sandstone and water. Each material will improve with age.
The outdoor courtyard on the second level.
How eco-friendly is the design?
This project retains all key natural site features, excavated only what was necessary, utilises passive solar heating and cooling, employs cross ventilation, and hydronic heating in the concrete slab and features only Australian recycled hardwoods.
How eco-friendly is the design?
This project retains all key natural site features, excavated only what was necessary, utilises passive solar heating and cooling, employs cross ventilation, and hydronic heating in the concrete slab and features only Australian recycled hardwoods.
The cantilevered kitchen on the second level.
What was your budget?
Around AU$2 million.
Where did most of it go?
On the design detailing.
What was your budget?
Around AU$2 million.
Where did most of it go?
On the design detailing.
The sandstone cliff is on view from the kitchen.
A custom joinery unit designed by Filip Janssens is beside the main entry on the second level.
Tell us about the beautiful joinery
We wanted the joinery to act as artwork. It was custom-designed by renowned Belgian furniture and interior designer Filip Janssens.
Tell us about the beautiful joinery
We wanted the joinery to act as artwork. It was custom-designed by renowned Belgian furniture and interior designer Filip Janssens.
The open-plan kitchen connects to a living area.
Tell us about the awards this house has won
It has won multiple design awards, including HIA (Housing Industry Association) Australian Home of the Year – National (2021).
Tell us about the awards this house has won
It has won multiple design awards, including HIA (Housing Industry Association) Australian Home of the Year – National (2021).
The living area on the second level.
A custom joinery wall designed by Filip Janssens in the family room on the third level.
The family room on the third level.
What are the defining features of the house?
What are the defining features of the house?
- Black zinc.
- A three-storey internal lift.
- Spectacular views.
- Beautiful custom joinery.
The exterior features off-form concrete and zinc, both chosen to weather naturally over time.
The swimming pool on the third level.
Tell us about the pool
It’s located on the third level beside the backyard. The pool was cut around the rock so the rock wouldn’t be disturbed.
Tell us about the pool
It’s located on the third level beside the backyard. The pool was cut around the rock so the rock wouldn’t be disturbed.
The main bedroom on the third level.
Exterior palette
Exterior palette
- Black zinc.
- Off-form concrete.
- Recycled ironbark.
- A Taubmans custom white was used internally.
The main ensuite.
Your turn
Are you as impressed by this innovative home design as we are? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another new build? Don’t miss this story – Something Old, Something New: A Unique Knockdown-Rebuild
Your turn
Are you as impressed by this innovative home design as we are? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another new build? Don’t miss this story – Something Old, Something New: A Unique Knockdown-Rebuild
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Most Popular
Picture Perfect: 45 Ideas for Bathroom Mirror Style and Placement
Our coffee-break escape offers you five minutes' worth of images to inspire and delight. Jump right in...
Full Story
Kitchens
How Practical Is... Handleless Joinery?
Handleless joinery is popular in modern homes. But how suitable are cupboards that can only be opened with a touch?
Full Story
Most Popular
Renovation Insight: How to Choose an Architect
A great architect can turn your dream home into reality – three industry experts reveal where to look for the right one
Full Story
Before & After
Before & After: Once Hidden, a Victorian Home's Beauty Unmasked
Peeling back the layers of a series of modernisations and then adding a sympathetic new extension revitalised this home
Full Story
Picture Perfect
16 of the Most Stylish Solutions for Drying Laundry
Our coffee-break escape offers you five minutes' worth of images to inspire and delight. Jump right in...
Full Story
Kitchens
A Kitchen That Uses Special Elements to Punch Above Its Weight
This couple wanted a well-designed kitchen that incorporated their pre-bought furniture; this designer delivered
Full Story
Project Of The Week
A Dated Country Home in a Kiwifruit Orchard Made Modern
When their grown-up sons moved out, these NZ homeowners gave their much-loved country home a chic, modern makeover
Full Story
Picture Perfect
17 Small Bathrooms That Manage to Squeeze in a Bath
Our coffee-break escape offers you five minutes' worth of images to inspire and delight. Jump right in...
Full Story
Kitchens
An Interplay of Light, Dark & Colour Creates a Striking Kitchen
All-white joinery, floors and walls is foiled by a handsome island bench and contemporary artworks in this handy kitchen
Full Story
Project Of The Week
An Inspired Solution for a Dark & Disjointed Californian Bungalow
See how an architect opened up a light-starved, closed-in Melbourne home, and connected it with the neighbouring park
Full Story
beautiful
This house featured on Grand Designs too. It is one of my favourite homes on the show. I really enjoyed watching how they achieved this.
It was an impressive build and I loved the look of the exposed rock walls that surround the lower levels. A lot of effort and skill was needed to manage that crazy block, and the end result of this home is truly remarkable.
The Inbuilt Joinery Storage :
Love!
Incredible!
Beautiful!
Delightful!