Treetop hideaway

Building a house in an idyllic location requires close consideration of two questions. First, where-abouts on the property to build to maximise your appreciation of the surroundings? And second, how to actually design it without destroying the natural setting?

The owners of this home, set on a steep, north-facing site, decided early on in the design process to locate the house at the uppermost end of the property, says architect Kristin Utz.

"While this went against the convenience of setting the house by the street at the lower end of the property, there were several advantages," says Utz. "Balancing the need for a long walking path up to the front door, the elevated situation afforded water views not seen from lower on the site, and also brought privacy from nearby properties."

The light-filled, open-plan residence resembles a tree house in more than one way. As well as sitting up amongst the treetops, the house's supporting elements are like a tree's structure. Four concrete piles sprout steel branches which in turn support the lightweight, largely steel-and-glass house. The supporting branches are augmented by a concrete retaining wall at the rear.

"The house has a simple linear plan, softened by the addition of timber decks that meet the slope at the back," says the architect. "Curved steel beams frame the decks and floor plate, reminiscent of a ship's prow."

With all doors and windows thrown open, the line between the home's indoors and outdoors vanishes. The monopitch roof is angled to maximise lower, winter sun penetration, while shielding out the vertical rays of the hot summer sun. High-level louvres add strategic cross-ventilation, while the central fireplace provides winter warmth.

"This tree house-like design not only maximises views, it also minimises impact on the site's flora and rock outcrops," says Utz. "Bulldozing through to build a classic three-bedroom home would have effectively ruined the property."

Story by: Charles Moxham