Reaching out to the scenery

Clever engineering lets this cantilevered home dodge the odd scenery-blocking neighbour to ensure dramatic outlooks from every window including the upstairs living spaces

From the architects: "We designed the home to

The main bedroom also cantilevers off the main

Cladding is Anthracite Aluminium standing seam requiring no

Enter! The entrance way looks straight through the

The kitchen/dining/living spaces are upstairs with bedrooms downstairs

The kitchen looks out to the dining area

Marble-look tiles and wood veneer cabinetry create an

A side courtyard area is positioned centrally, linking

This powder room combines old-world architecture wallpaper with

The beautifully finished home office. - Reaching out

Handle-free upper cabinets and minimalist pulls on the

A boardwalk runs in front of the downstairs

Designed by Aaron Jones, Urbanfunction

From the building designer:

Project description

Being Sydney based, our clients required a home away from home, in close geographical proximity to an elder parent.

The home is intended to feel like a luxurious getaway from busy city life but also function as a remote office so city life can be still connected when required.

Given the beautiful views across McCormacks bay, the estuary towards the Southshore spit and the ocean.

We were asked to find a way to connect every room to the outside, frame the views yet have the ability to shelter from the prevailing Easterly wind that hits the site head on.

The home was required to be maintenance free, have a timeless aesthetic and tip toe around the cliff collapse zones at the base of the site.

Design features and creative solutions

We quickly identified that the cliff collapse zone was going to provide challenges on a site of this shape and orientation.

Plus, to balance views from interior spaces was going to require clever structural engineering responses.

We designed the home to cantilever on angled steel posts over the cliff collapse zone below.

This ensured we could thrust the kitchen/dining spaces into a position that peers around a neighbouring building, yet also maximises sunlight and North western views over the estuary to the Kaikoura ranges.

This cantilever and angular structure allowed us to land the foundation upslope from the cliff collapse zone, satisfying geotechnical concerns.

The main bedroom also cantilevers off the main building in a separate area, essentially punching out of the side to frame views across the estuary from in bed.

An internal courtyard area is positioned centrally, linking the office to the living spaces.

This zone is positioned to be sheltered from prevailing easterly winds, to capture North-western sun and also to maintain transparency through the building to the views.

Downstairs is a mix of guest bedrooms and a den that all maintain views to the bay and connect to a sheltered outdoor entertainment zone, complete with astro-turf lawn area.

Cladding is Anthracite Aluminium standing seam requiring no maintenance and all underside overhangs and soffits are clad with a mixture of timber decking and cedar panelling to soften and meet the owners love of visible timber elements.

Native plantings establish the grounds – local, low maintenance plants were chosen that require minimal irrigation.