Faced with a steeply sloping site that promised a spectacular ocean view in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, architect Matthew Krusin, principal of Tobias Partners, knew that a terraced design was the answer.
“We had a challenge – we knew how many levels we needed to go up and we didn’t want to create a straightup monster,” says Matthew. However, it’s one thing to terrace down but very different to terrace up. “We had to ensure that as you ascend the site each level is an experience. Otherwise you just feel you are constantly walking up.”
The single-storey house that occupied the site squandered its dress-circle ocean views. Having lived in the neighbourhood for some time the owners wanted to be close to the beach for their two young children and were excited by the possibilities of the block. They needed space but also wanted a simple design where all the levels of the house felt connected.
The family and the architect began discussions on the rebuild in 2013. “We worked slowly and took our time with the design, looking at the different conditions,” says Matthew. “It was a nice collaborative process and we wanted to be sure everyone was happy with how we were using the site. We wanted to create a beautiful finished product but we didn’t want to overcapitalise.”
The resulting house steps back up the slope from a sandstone-encased underground garage and timber battened foundations at street level. A series of concrete frames form the structure that rises more than 13 metres from the road with a “delicate hat” sitting at the top. The lift and stair are set off to one side to allow the full width of the fairly slender site to be utilised.
Denne historien er fra December - January 2021-utgaven av Belle Magazine Australia.
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Denne historien er fra December - January 2021-utgaven av Belle Magazine Australia.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Highly prized
A move into a light-dappled Victorian Italianate building with purposebuilt interiors allowed Criteria and sister company C.Gallery to showcase atelier-based furniture, lighting, objects and art in a unique design gallery.
The gold and the beautiful
An interior designer daringly pushes the boundaries in her own home in Sydney's eastern suburbs - with glittering results.
Poetic aesthetic
There's rhyme and reason in the artful assemblage of European antiques and decorative objets in this gently refreshed Sydney home.
STATE OF MIND
ON NEW YORK’S UPPER EAST SIDE Melbourne-based designer Tali Roth has crafted an apartment that is both classy and comfortable, where modernist icons and contemporary finds sit side-by-side.
PLUM JOB
REWORKING THE COMPLEX BURROWS of an inner-city terrace has resulted in an expansive home for two, with rich hues and pared-back furnishings, all imbued with meaningful custom finishes.
ABSTRACT IMPRESSIONS
SERVING AS A GALLERY for the owners' growing art collection, this opulent yet tricky-shaped apartment in Sydney's eastern suburbs emulates the eclecticism of New York's jewel box apartments.
SMART SPACES
An alchemical mix of luxury furnishings fused with superior surfaces has transformed and elevated these properties.
House PROUD
In a collaboration between Belle and Fanuli, three leading interior designers transform the most intimate rooms of a home into chic sanctuaries.
MUSE WORTHY
The interiors of the Sydney home of arts advisor and advocate Kym Elphinstone are a fitting tribute to her passion for Australian artists and creators.
ENJOY YOUR STAY
Forget the journey, for the Lancemore Hotel Group, it's all about the destination and showcasing high-end Australian design.
