Project posted by Luigi Rosselli Architects

Harbour Front-Row Seat

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Location
Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia
Structure Type
House (Single Residence)

© Justin Alexander

A copper rimmed hole was cut into the flat roof to bring light and air to a deep terrace. The landscaper delivered, by crane, three frangipani trees to soften the sea wall. Brass boat portholes are cut into the gate and the boathouse doors. © Justin Alexander

The bead blasted stainless steel balcony railings are a nautical reference to the naval architecture of the 1930s. the low iron glass behind it is to satisfy the Building Code of Australia. © Edward Birch

Sydney Harbour’s water continues in the white tiled swimming pool, a glass splash protection screen limits any pool water overflow onto the public beach. © Edward Birch

The gravelled entry drive splits to the garage on the right and the entry court on the left. The timber wall cladding conceals a garage door and the old brick façade of the house. © Justin Alexander

Once a barren parking area, the entry courtyard is now a densely landscaped garden with bottle trees and garden gnomes. © Justin Alexander

The wall cladding is composed of three sizes of western red cedar panels with a Porter’s grey timber stain, specially mixed for the project. www.porterspaints.com © Justin Alexander

The entrance hall is bathed in light from the stairwell both day and night. © Edward Birch

A timber handrail and masonry parapet follow the stair effortlessly, as if they had been formed with modelling clay. © Edward Birch

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Credits

Posted by
Luigi Rosselli Architects

Interior Design
a
Alexandra Donohoe for Decus Interiors
Landscape Design
d
Dangar Group / William Dangar Associates
Photographer
Justin Alexander
e
Edward Birch
Notes

It is quite rare, in Woollahra Council’s municipality, to have a waterfront residence so close to the water. One gets the feeling of being in Sydney Harbour when looking out of the over-sized wafer-thin framed windows. Luigi Rosselli Architects won a limited architectural competition to develop the site by proposing to revive the existing three storey house while the competitors opted for a clean slate solution. Adaptive reuse is the best way to keep a carbon footprint small and the strategy was rewarded in this waterfront property by maintaining the foreshore building line just a few steps from the water. A new house would have to be set further back. Though built on the edge of beach this is not a beach house. The cultured art lovers and sophisticated art collectors who commissioned this project required a very urbane and elegant residence, with an environment ideal to display their collection. Expansive Wall spaces, nooks for sculptures and specialised art lighting were necessary. The entry courtyard was originally a cramped driveway with three garages as main features, the solution was to relocate the garages and have a Will Dangar designed courtyard with sculptural plants and textural architectural details. The result restored a sense of dignified arrival where people, not cars, are welcome. Design Architect: Luigi Rosselli Project Architects: Jane McNeill, Hugh Campbell Landscape Architect: William Dangar for Dangar Group / William Dangar Associates Structural & Hydraulic Consultant: Charles Blunt for Rooney & Bye (Australia) Pty Ltd Interior Designer: Alexandra Donohoe for Decus Interiors Builder: Sydcon Building Services Pty Ltd Joiner: Corelli Joinery Photography: Justin Alexander, Edward Birch
Luigi Rosselli Architects

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