Houzz Tour: More Than a Bushland Weekender in Bowen Mountain
“They quit their jobs and permanently relocated to the property,” says Cole, the architect/builder hired to design and construct the home. They
A courtyard serves as the entry point to the home, connecting the new sustainable home to the hut at the rear. Capturing the stunning bushland views from every room in the house was a must. Glazing provides 360-degree views from inside, while outdoor decks and terraces allow the home to merge harmoniously with the surrounding bush.The connection from indoors to outdoors is seamless. The journey from the main bedroom in the original hut through the courtyard takes you past a native fish pond and into the kitchen and living spaces of the main pavilion.
Michael and Zenga had owned the vacant block for several years before contacting Cole from CplusC, an architect whose work they had been following for some time. The couple had spent many a weekend clearing the site, imagining the house that would one day grace the space. As the weekender took shape, though, they couldn’t help but get excited about what else they could add to the design along the way. “Conceived as a simple weekender, this pavilion house grew to include extensive landscaping, a swimming pool, pool house and sauna, with spectacular results,” says Cole.
The steel frame finish was the most challenging aspect of the build for Cole because it was sandblasted then two-part epoxy coated. “With a guarantee of 50 years, there is no other finish that compares, but it is logistically complex to carry out this finish as it must be done in situ,” he says. And although Cole loved the serenity of residing on site during the build, living away from family and friends for an extended period was also very difficult.Overcoming the challenge of having to finish the steel on site could only be done through old-fashioned hard work and forging a solid relationship with the sub-contractors carrying out that work. “We had very long work days of 10-12 hours, including working under flood lights at night,” says Cole.
“Originally, the main pavilion bathroom opened to the view through the living spaces, but in the end, the clients asked for doors to allow for privacy when guests were over,” says Cole. The existing two-bedroom, one-bathroom on-site hut now operates as part of a B & B, and several suites have been added to the design.
Houzz at a GlanceWho lives here? Couple Michael Podles and Zenga Butler, who have since turned the property into the award-winning Sangoma RetreatLocation: Bowen Mountain, lower Blue Mountains, SydneySize: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom (plus 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom in the existing timber hut on the site) Cost: $580,000Cole could see why the couple had fallen in love with the beautiful bushland setting – he lived on site in the existing cottage for a year during the build, and delighted in the sound of the bower birds each morning.“It is one of the most peaceful and still places I have ever worked in,” he says. “The site literally forced my hand with respect to the architectural response. It is a project that sits very comfortably in its surroundings.”
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