An Architectural “Gorge” Splits This Australian Home in Half
The Iron Maiden House showcases a unique way to bring the outside in by replicating a natural phenomenon.
When architects at CplusC Architectural Workshop were approached about building a home in Longueville, a suburb of Sydney, with a strong connection between indoor and outdoor living, they didn’t shy away from the task. Instead, they created a space that borrows forms from nature and the area's local architectural vernacular.
The Iron Maiden House, so named for the facade's iron cladding, is unafraid to challenge the idea of a traditional home. According to the architects: "Conceptually, the privacy and beauty of a natural gorge, in which water cuts through rock to form secluded spaces, was replicated with overscaled walls to generate the final form. The simple shape was extruded lengthways along the site and sliced down the middle with a pond to form a central axis. Slender, cathedral-like spaces were formed around this central thoroughfare with ponds running parallel to walkways to link the spaces."
To maximize privacy and streamline flow, the first floor of the home is protected by a large wall while on the inside, spaces blend into one another through the use of oversized glass doors. While the first floor looks inwards, the second floor looks outwards towards the Lane Cove River and Sydney’s Central Business District through oversized windows.
Photo Courtesy of CplusC Architectural Workshop
Photo Courtesy of CplusC Architectural Workshop
Get the Pro Newsletter
What’s new in the design world? Stay up to date with our essential dispatches for design professionals.
Photo Courtesy of CplusC Architectural Workshop
Photo Courtesy of CplusC Architectural Workshop
Photo Courtesy of CplusC Architectural Workshop
Photo Courtesy of CplusC Architectural Workshop
Photo Courtesy of CplusC Architectural Workshop
Shop the Look
Tower White Ladder
It’s onward and upward for your organization capabilities with Tower Ladders. Crafted from steel and wood, this is a minimal and clean Japanese design that puts everything in easy reach. The sturdy, slender rungs call for some hang time with your favorite blankets, throws, towels, newspapers, magazines and accessories. Because of its slim build, it’s ideal for small spaces in need of creative storage. In clean white, it gives your space instant levity. Also available in Black.
ShopFLOS Aim Multipoint Pendant Light
The AIM Pendant Light, designed by brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for FLOS, challenges the conventions of lighting design. Instead of being made to be hidden, the substantial cord is a central design element that can be looped, gathered, crossed, or draped to add sculptural intrigue. The length of the cord allows you adjust the height and direction of the lamp as needed, and the dimmable LED creates a variety of moods. Produced out of polished aluminum, ABS, and polycarbonate, the AIM Pendant is a lighting fixture that approaches the impact of an art installation. Photo courtesy of Nostraforma
ShopBlu Dot Ready Stacking Counter Stool
A stackable stool with powder-coated steel sled legs and a molded plywood seat makes for a friendly contract solution or a perfect everyday perch. Available in three colors, these stools are ready when you are. Also available as a barstool. Photo Courtesy of Blu Dot
ShopPhoto Courtesy of CplusC Architectural Workshop
Photo Courtesy of CplusC Architectural Workshop
Photo Courtesy of CplusC Architectural Workshop
More modern homes in Sydney:
A Streamlined Addition Revives a Gloomy Victorian in Sydney
An Architect’s Home in Sydney Is a Masterful Lesson in Sustainable Design
This 1930s Bungalow in Sydney Was Preserved in the Front and Updated in the Back
Project Credits:
Architect of Record: CplusC Architectural Workshop
Published
Last Updated