Latimer House Bellevue Hill

This new house in Bellevue Hill posed some interesting design challenges thanks to the odd shaped site, and two existing Norfolk Pines on the front fence line.

Our design for a contemporary split-level, two-storey-plus-basement home aimed to maximise privacy while framing views to planted roofs, courtyard gardens, tree lines along the boundaries, and the “borrowed” canopy beyond.

We opted for materials that complement these outlooks, including expressed concrete and rendered brick that grounds the base, and timber cladding on the upper level to convey a sense of lightness.

From the front door, the rooms cascade down to the lofty living spaces, overlooking the rear garden. Bedrooms are located upstairs and take advantage of distant views.

A sunken pool on the rear boundary is bordered by a dense layering of new and existing landscape and feature trees.

Planter boxes across various levels – including potted trees on the first floor – enhance the sense of being immersed in a garden, and outdoor connections are further enhanced by abundant natural light and ventilation throughout.

“Now that we have been living in our new Bellevue Hill home for nearly 2 months, our family would like to take the opportunity to express our deep appreciation for the amazing and magnificent result. We believe an enduring testimony to good design has been created that will stand the test of time for generations, and that is the true mark of sustainability. And we simply love living in it/love coming home to it and love entertaining in it (as do the kids). The design is elegant but simple, tasteful yet understated. Everything “flows”. We love how natural light permeates throughout, how the external/internal areas blend so well and how our Bellevue Hill outlook and greenery is captured from every direction. The integration of technology and energy efficiency makes living here a pleasure. Our family, friends and even passers-by so marvel at the design, and we are often left speechless. Tobias Partners interior design caps it all off. The furniture is beautiful and compliments the house just so well.

A special thanks to John Richards. John is relentless in his pursuit of perfection and his attention to detail is extraordinary – the outcome speaks for itself. The house is a legacy to his incredible hard work, from design to management of trades. Also a special thanks to Martine. Her good taste finished the project spectacularly. And of course we understand John Barker was always working behind the scenes ensuring the contracts and builder were being administered in our best interests.

Nick, your input, whether it was the project conception/vision at the start, culminating in placement of artwork at the end, we appreciate everything you have done and your guiding presence throughout the 3 year project. 

On a final note, it was a pleasure working with you and your team. Not every moment was easy and we recognise building a house from scratch like this is fraught but the process overall was exciting and enjoyable.” – Client

“Sitting behind two richly defining Norfolk pines that line the home’s streetscape frontage, Latimer House emerges as a three-storey home from a densely landscaped garden setting in Bellevue Hill, in harbour side eastern Sydney. Tobias Partners responds to the area’s established and handsomely maintained sensibilities through a combined restraint and openness. Split over multiple levels, the home incorporates a number of dividing elements over each level to direct views outward and encourage a seamless flow internally… Through a deliberate celebration of the thresholds between inside and out, the internal living and external garden spaces of the home are carefully woven together across its multiple levels. The integration of vegetation emphasises the home as a restorative place to recharge, creating a series of outdoor rooms that extend the habitable spaces beyond the built envelope.” – Bronwyn Marshall, The Local Project