A Wander Through The Portal

Industrial meets opulence in a space filled with expressive design elements

- Donnay Torr

If a certain Alice found her way to the suburb of Collaroy in Sydney, chances are she’d feel right at home at Through the Portal. This residence contains plenty for the curious to explore, starting with the signature namesake sculpture.

Designed as a wow factor in the garden, the “Portal” sculpture creates a point of difference. While the style of the small, southern-facing front garden and entrance is industrial, “the sculpture is playful and provides a place to retreat to”, explains Liz Horton, landscape architect and director of Podology. “It combines form and function with a seat wall that extends through the portal and connects the sculpture to the garden.”

Installing this unique feature caused a bit of head-scratching in the neighbourhood, laughs Liz. “The street was lined with neighbours and passers-by when we were craning it in. They thought it was a drainage pipe, and could not understand how it could be a ‘sculptural feature’. Once in place, they understood its design intent and beauty.”

The sculpture is definitely a statement of intent: a minimalist style and no-fuss industrial textures and colours echo throughout the external and internal parts of this residence. But this is not a rigid, cold space where families and friends fear to tread. Created to complement a four-bedroom dwelling designed and built to the highest spec, the landscape had to be in keeping with a high-end aesthetic while still being family-friendly, functional and a joy to live in.