Oasis of calm

Designed by MCK Architects

From the architects:

This modern concrete house by MCK Architects overcomes the complexities of a sloping site and a crowded suburb through a considered approach to design, the built form and the landscape.

Located in Seaforth on Sydney's Northern Beaches, the home is blessed with vistas of the still waters of Middle Harbour. 

It strikes a balance between modesty and tenacity, creating a home that the owners describe as ‘an oasis’ where every part of the design has ‘its own purpose and beauty’.

It presents as a simple concrete form more akin to an object floating on the land rather than something built to be entrenched in it.

While its footprint is simple and unassuming, there are still enough spaces to escape to when one needs to find solitude.

A balance of positive and negative forms create an arrangement of purposeful spaces designed with quality and longevity in mind.

Design inspiration

Located on Sydney's Northern beaches the home strikes a balance between modesty and tenacity. 

Influenced by its topography, context, and district views, the two storey home perches itself above the street, orientated towards views of Middle Harbour to the South yet it remains constrained in form as the result of a relatively simple floor plan. 

A dilapidated dwelling with poor planning and environmental issues had been demolished to provide a clean slate for the new dwelling.

Layout – connection and separation

Direct northern light is invited into the home from the northern rear yard, where a double height exterior void ensures this natural light enters deep into the plan at the ground floor living zone level. 

In this respect the primary stair, designed to be as invisible as possible, flanks a double height glazed wall connecting both floor levels to northern natural light. 

On the first floor, a skinny void separates the adult and child zones and extends the path of natural light down. 

The overall form has been shaped like a tube that establishes privacy to both east and west side neighbours while landscape and traditional screening devices visually detach the home from the high side rear neighbours. 

The streetscape landscape is elevated above the street providing additional privacy from ambling pedestrians.

While there is a strong emphasis on the view to the south, light and privacy are controlled where required, especially in the more private rooms of the home, to create absolute seclusion. 

The home operates in a constant state of calm and although its footprint is unassuming, there are still enough spaces to escape to when one needs to find solitude, and each zone of the home has its own unique purpose. 

The private and public areas of the home are defined by stratified levels, noting the most private zones are at the end of the circulation journey. 

Bedrooms and bathrooms have been arranged on the first floor, interior + living zones at the ground floor and services and lower use spaces at basement level, including a modest rumpus that borrows refracted light through the backyard pool.

A strong visual connection to the garden intertwines it to all areas of the interior.

Material strengths

Off form concrete and timber combine as the dominant materials of the home's palette, with the finer elements typically being detailed in black steel/metal. 

Where needed the home is alternatively solid + robust or light and inviting, and this balance of positive and negative forms creates the combination of purposeful spaces.

Sustainably minded

Passive solar design defines the home and its tube like massing invites both Sydney’s north-easterly and south-easterly breezes through the interior. 

Rainwater is harvested and fed directly back into the landscape as required.

A credit to all

This home is the collaborative outcome between a team of like-minded design minds including architects, landscape architects, builder and the owners, whose keen eyes almost demanded their involvement at every turn equating to a rewarding outcome for all.

Story by: Trendsideas