Measured response

Building on a modest-sized, inner-city site with height and street-access limitations calls for a design that will turn every negative into a positive.

The site that this three-level house inhabits is small and narrow. Prior to excavation, it presented a 2m bank between the street and front boundary and a 6m rise from the front to the rear of the section. Working closely with the owners, architect Ron Seeto had to include a garage, three bedrooms, a formal living and dining area, kitchen, a home theatre and study within the narrow area. The dwelling also had to offer views, privacy and relaxed indoor-outdoor living.

Seeto's first move was to excavate the site, creating two platforms to provide drive-on access and resolve site levels.

"The house is designed as two tower elements linked by an indoor-outdoor casual eating-living and cooking hub that balances interior privacy with filtered views," says Seeto. "A skewed central axis reinforces the idea of movement up through the residence as it negotiates its siting."

The garage and storage areas on the basement level give way to secondary bedrooms, a gym and laundry on the level above. The third level starts with the living and dining areas that look out over the views and then moves to the kitchen and open courtyard, reached by floor-to-ceiling glass doors from the central access way.

"This design moves from public to private spaces," says Seeto. "A small step from the living spaces to the kitchen circulation corridor signals a movement into more informal areas, including the courtyard, study and home theatre.

"The uppermost level is the domain of the master bedroom, ensuite, master dressing and a rooftop garden."

While maintaining privacy from the street, helped by the placement of the garage and the garden over it, the design maximises views to the front of the home. Bedrooms on the lower level, and the formal rooms above, look directly to the street, while the study and kitchen have sightlines to the same outlooks. The master suite has a clear outlook across the roof garden to the harbour.

The articulated design makes the most of the natural light that filters into the interiors from the central courtyard. Arrow-slit windows in the stairwell and angled clerestory windows in the living areas, kitchen and master suite all contribute to this.

Besides negotiating the lie of the land and optimising sunlight and scenery, the stepped design fulfils council building requirements.

"The long sections reflect the changes in site levels, while the cross sections address height in relation to boundary controls," says Seeto.

A key to the success of this split-level home is the central courtyard. This can form part of the interior, providing a sheltered outdoor living space, or can be separated off in poor weather. With the front of the home having three levels and the back, dug into the hillside, only two, the roof of this covered courtyard provides a bridging element.

The dwelling's distinctive architecture is matched by a modern material sensibility. Polished concrete, black aluminium and glass predominate, with the red garage and front door providing external accent colours.

Wooden stairs and floors bring the clean-lined interiors an additional natural warmth.

Story by: Charles Moxham