EDITOR’S FAVOURITE

THE STUDY WITH ITS SWEEPING BALUSTRADE THAT MERGES INTO THE WALL AS IF IT’S BEEN CARVED OUT OF ONE BLOCK OF MATERIAL

2024-02-22 -

DETAILS HOUSE Amara LOCATION Elizabeth Bay DATE COMMENCED 2015 DATE COMPLETED 2022

this Federation house was built in 1910 and at one point was divided into duplexes. Now it’s a luxurious modern home that sprawls languidly over four levels. The renovation by Smart Design Studio saw the original home gracefully restored with echoes of the past, while the new addition was built as a contemporary glass box. The owners, a professional couple with two young children, were drawn to the heritage character of the house. “Reinstating original features and restoring it to its former glory was important,” they comment. The house is now a grand affair, with five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a powder room. The other requests by the owners were for a study, formal lounge, music room, gym, wine cellar and pool, all to fit on a 400sqm site.

Within the new structure is a beautiful kitchen and family room at ground level. Above it is the study on a sculpted mezzanine level. “A 4x3m glass door that slides open beside the granite-lined pond planted with a single Ficus tree provides a decorative flourish,” say the architects. “The opening is smaller than the door, so the frame seemingly disappears, creating a seamless flow between inside and out.”

The project is miraculous, its execution a feat of skilled engineering. It’s built on top of a rock wall, beside a neighbouring cliff face. To build the three storeys that make up the “box” required excavation. The gym, wine cellar and laundry are in the basement.

The architects say the inspiration for the build was the original house itself. “We were trying to riff off the original details, the craftmanship, the forms and the symmetry, the strength of the existing architecture,” they reveal. “It’s a very singular, simple, confident house and this informed the design.”

The interiors are made up of cool whites, with selected colour accents. The furnishings are understated, a backdrop to the client’s remarkable art collection. “Texture and fine

craftmanship bring interest to these quietly luxurious spaces,” explain the architects. “The walls in waxed render throughout provide a sense of continuity and have a lively finish, while the linen-panelled feature walls are distinctive but not overt and the handpainted timber, as opposed to polyurethane, is subtle but exacting.”

This warm, light-infused family home is filled with organic curves, places of quietude, and beautiful interiors that beckon. The 6m-high ceiling welcomes light into the southern end of the residence. “Light bounces around the room thanks to the reflective nature of the waxed render on the walls and the sweeping curve of the mezzanine,” explain the architects, “as well as the judicious placement of a tall slot window on one side of the house and a long clerestory window.”

From the outset, the designers communicated frequently with the owners, walking them through visually so they understood how the final project would present. With a clear image in mind from the get go, the owners didn’t request any changes, which saved time and money.

The dwelling is a restful haven that serves its owners well, with ample room to accommodate family and guests. The architects’ favourite aspect is the new addition as it reflects their philosophy — architecture from the inside out. “It brings together our fascination with volume, play on light and curvilinear language,” they share.

WE LOVE

AN ENGINEERING FEAT, THE SLAB GRANITE POOL IS NOW ONE OF THE HOME’S HIGHLIGHTS, CONNECTING WITH THE POND THAT RUNS ALONG THE BACK OF THE FAMILY ROOM

With a project of this scale, it’s no surprise there were memorable moments, one of which saw everyone involved hold a collective breath. “An incredible piece of marble, almost like an artwork in itself, needed to be craned into the kitchen,” recall the architects. “We managed to work through it, but not without a bit of pushing and pulling.”

Holistically, the project cuts to the chase of innovative design, delivering a unique home in a part of Elizabeth Bay where there are few freestanding homes. “There’s a sense of tranquillity and green; it’s almost like being at a resort in a busy part of town,” say the architects. “What sets it apart is this idea of a sanctuary that exists between the four walls that surround it.”

“IT BRINGS TOGETHER OUR FASCINATION WITH VOLUME, PLAY ON LIGHT AND CURVILINEAR LANGUAGE” — SMART DESIGN STUDIO