Seaside homes are naturally shaped to maximise their views, but because coastal land can be rugged and steep, site constrictions often play a defining role. The design of this house, nestled into a steep, inner-harbour hillside, offers a case in point.
Conceived by Corben Architects, with interiors by Garth Barnett Designers, the house is approached from an entry pavilion at street level, nine metres above. From here, the lift takes visitors down behind a windowless wall to emerge at a dramatic, double-height corridor, which leads to the home proper.
Corben team leader on the project was Mark Clark. He says the original house was oriented away from the harbour views, with access only via three flights of external stairs.
The clients demolished this structure and asked Clark and Barnett to replace it with a residence oriented to the views, with a user-friendly entrance, spacious interiors and the upmarket but approachable air of an understated resort.
"The new house sits in the middle of the property, halfway between the street above and harbour's edge below," says Clark. "It is substantial in size, but the residence avoids an overwhelming presence."
A careful choice of design elements and cladding options helps downplay the generous proportions. Architecturally, the house has a fragmented feel, with the roofs appearing to float just clear of supporting columns. The walls and roofs are designed to be seen as a disconnected series of planes with the overall effect that the building seems lightweight and airy.