This new house in Vaucluse sits on a triangular-shaped site in a natural valley that leads to a small beach. The architecture responds to these site conditions with an L-shaped plan that maximises Sydney Harbour views from the entertaining and private spaces on the upper level.
Entering from the street, the middle level contains bedrooms and bathrooms. A curvaceous raw steel stair leads up to entertaining spaces and down to private gardens, a swimming pool, and entertaining terraces at ground level.
The owners enjoy this lush garden on a daily basis, to access the carport which is located below the house and connected via a covered walkway.
Privacy is assured by banks of vertical louvres that direct the gaze towards water views, and horizontal louvres that bring in natural breezes.
Planter boxes at various levels throughout the house help to embed this new build into its mature garden setting.
“An odd shaped block of land, tight budget, huge expectations and one half of the couple giving up their day job to project manage the design and construction – we were very surprised Tobias Partners even agreed to embark on this ambitious and incredible building in the first place! We enjoyed an iterative and accommodating process which culminated in an orchestral symphony of unique design concepts, masterful attention to detail, flexible additions and alterations, robust building techniques, and creative solutions to demanding requests around the way we live. Tobias Partners have created a true masterpiece which is not only a dream to live in, but is a talking point in terms of beauty and innovation. We would recommend Tobias Partners to anyone who wants to create something special and enduring to enjoy for themselves and to pass on to future generations.” – Client
“Making the most of the outlook, the third floor has a generous kitchen, dining and main living room facing a balcony bookended by flared, rounded triangular concrete walls that frame treetops, sky and water. Houses on premium waterfront sites can often sit cheek by jowl. Here, the adjacent building to the north is masked by louvred panels of fine timber battens, blackened in a Japanese style, set to balance light and privacy. Decoratively there is a certain playfulness such as in the wine room… There is also a confident placement of art, which Nick – as a board member for the Museum of Contemporary Art – is passionate about, and encourages his clients to develop an eye for what is good.” – Karen McCartney, Belle Magazine
