Winner - Residential Buildings up to 250m2 BDA NSW Design Awards 2007

Design brief:

The clients presented a bush block with a very narrow building envelope and magnificent ocean views. Paramount in their brief was to capture these views from every room. They didn’t want a large home but wanted it to look spectacular and it had to exude their uniqueness and alternative lifestyle.

It had to have a polished concrete floor throughout and it was important that all materials be non allergenic and non toxic. Separate accommodation for the kids was crucial with their own living area; outdoor entertaining and plenty of northern sun to allow for maximum passive solar impact. All this for around $150,000.

Design Solution:

The narrowness of the building envelope and the north facing views dictated the shape of this building. It was decided 3 skillion roofed pavilions joined by light filled galleries would allow for maximum zoning, views and passive solar impact.

The large central common/family area gives a feeling of immense volume. A northern alfresco area tucked into the glass gallery allows protection from the westerly winds while winter sun and views can be enjoyed. 90% of the house is wrapped in zincalume which, in conjunction with northern glass and concrete floor, maximises the energy efficiency. The final cost was just over $190,000.