Hidden prospect

A great landscape vista will stop most anyone in their tracks. If you are fortunate enough to have access to such a view from your back yard, why not create a place to admire it for as long and as comfortably as possible.

Homeowner Edward Simpson enjoys a panorama of the city from behind his hillside Sydney home, so he chose to build a pavilion, to watch the sun set over the harbour bridge or as a place to meditate.

Designed by architect William Zuccon, the structure cannot be seen from the house.

"Family and guests find it by following a sandstone path, where it appears dramatically at the end," he says.

The pavilion is all curves a deep canopy arches over sinuous seating while white support beams beneath the deck spread in a gentle fan. Facing northwest and set on a high site, it catches sunshine year round.

The canopy is a teak-clad steel frame that rests on a substantial concrete base, says builder Rodney Kirk. This enables the structure to withstand strong winds when necessary.

As the area is exposed and gets a lot of rain, landscape architect William Dangar specified tough, hardy plants, such as succulents and native grasses, for their sculptural appearance. Despite its sturdy construction, the pavilion appears to float among the plants in the garden.

"It's so appropriate for the site and a great way to use the back of the property," says Simpson. "We enjoy the play of light and shadow the pavilion gets at various times of the day."

At night, uplighting behind the seating area illuminates the platform.

While the pavilion is a restful place, on New Year's Eve it is the perfect gathering point to watch fireworks over the harbour bridge.

Story by: Lori Nims