This exceptional contemporary residence overcame numerous site and construction challenges to provide a fit-for-purpose home for a couple and their two teenage children. The site was previously occupied by a split level 1970s brick which was demolished to make way for a 2 storey timber-framed building clad in Equitone and a light weight foam render system. Tiles and stone are used as a feature throughout.
Significant ground works were undertaken to allow for the larger footprint of the new home, which includes a lower level kitchen, deck, laundry, entertaining area and guest quarters, and upper level sleeping/retreat areas. With ground water flowing from Scenic Drive above the site, a 3m retaining wall was required.
The building is located on a street curve which saw the architect design a residence with very few square angles and which demanded a exacting technical response from N&B Russell Building, who worked closely with the engineer to resolve buildability issues and material junctions. Equitone was used in an innovative way externally via angled-cut sheets to provide a patterned effect, and fixed conventionally with screws to timber battens. Completing the external material palette is an impressive dry stone wall in Wamberal granite which carries through to the interior.
Inside the residence presents as a calm, luxurious environment with natural tones and a material collection of timber, stone, glass and tile. Large glass entrance doors (2.7m x 1.5m) greet visitors to the house and a large floating staircase adds to the overall effect of understated modern elegance. The upper level sleeping and retreat areas are arranged into a separate parents and teenager’s wings, all rooms including built-in wardrobes.
The difficult site and the use of a relatively new building product in an unusual way required a strong background in all aspects of construction. The clients are delighted with the result and are using the large, light-filled entertaining areas to their fullest advantage to share this beautiful home with their friends and family on a regularly basis.
