This project presented the opportunity to design modest yet functional home that would provide opportunities for additional income. The property’s unique triangular shape and sloping terrain, along with its proximity to a public walking trail near a lake, posed challenges in maintaining privacy and maximising views.
The brief evolved to prioritise a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom family home with a connected self-contained ancillary dwelling or studio. Practical considerations included careful site integration, addressing BAL bushfire ratings, and ensuring a sustainable yet cost-effective approach to construction. The family desired an understated, modern aesthetic with high ceilings, split-level design elements, and textured finishes to create a welcoming yet distinctive living environment.
Nestled amongst eucalypts, our building design uses a courtyard and breezeway to elegantly divide and define three key zones: a self-contained studio to the north-east, a garage and utility areas to the south-east, and the main L-shaped dwelling on a lower level to the south and west. This arrangement maximises privacy and functionality while embracing the site’s natural slope.
Split levels and terraces guide the transition between spaces, creating a sense of journey through the home. The dramatic, nondescript black façade contrasts with the surrounding bushland, while carefully crafted rooflines frame views of the sky and trees, enhancing the sense of connection to the environment.
At the heart of the home lies the courtyard – a sheltered, private space open to the north, offering a sense of seclusion and tranquility. To the west of the courtyard, the elevated open-plan living area extends seamlessly to an outdoor terrace shaded by a vine-covered pergola. Perched above a public footpath, this terrace provides elevated views through the eucalypts to the lake beyond, creating a serene outdoor retreat.
Dark finishes throughout accentuate the play of light and shadow, particularly in enclosed outdoor spaces such as the breezeway and courtyard verandahs. Carefully spaced rooflines above these areas create visual tension while allowing light to filter through. The surrounding eucalypts feature in every view, grounding the home in its bushland setting.
