Harbour Front-Row Seat
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

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

Steel windows and woven brass screens provide an open feeling and privacy as well.
www.sky-frame.ch
© Justin Alexander

The seven metre tall Lindsey Adelman chandelier dominates the stairwell. Light projectors, concealed in the suspended ceiling, illuminate the artwork.
www.lindseyadelman.com
© Justin Alexander

Brasilian ribbed glass in steel framed doors frame the jewellery inspired Herve van der Straeten lustre.
www.vanderstraeten.fr
© Justin Alexander
![1930s Halabala [ www.designaddict.com/atlas/designers/Jindrich-Halabala/ ] reading chairs contemplate the densely packed library.
© Justin Alexander Photo 16 of Harbour Front-Row Seat modern home](https://images.dwell.com/photos-6139220396386897920/6245119757894684672-thumbnail/1930s-halabala-wwwdesignaddictcomatlasdesignersjindrich-halabala-reading-chairs-contemplate-the-densely-packed-library-c-justin-alexander.jpg)
1930s Halabala [ www.designaddict.com/atl... ] reading chairs contemplate the densely packed library.
© Justin Alexander
- Alexandra Donohoe for Decus Interiors
- Dangar Group / William Dangar Associates
- Justin Alexander
- Edward Birch