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City Meets Coast - Bronte, Sydney, Australia by Nick Bell Architects

Project name:
City meets Coast
Architecture firm:
Nick Bell Architects
Location:
Bronte, Sydney, Australia
Photography:
Tom Ferguson Photography
Principal architect:
Nick Bell
Design team:
Collaborators:
Interior design:
Nick Bell Architects
Built area:
347 m²
Site area:
450 m²
Design year:
2016
Completion year:
2018
Civil engineer:
Structural engineer:
Environmental & MEP:
Landscape:
Lighting:
Large skylights facing north were designed over the study at first floor which is detached from the external walls using a single steel beam, so it almost seems to float over a portion of the main living area. The study footprint was designed to stop short from the north and east walls to allow for the double height voids to illuminate the living spaces below. The skylights not only provide a sun filled study were our clients spend a large portion of their days but also the natural light captured by the skylights washes the feature face brick wall creating different lighting effects throughout the day which can be appreciated from the ground floor. The skylights wrap around an east facing window towards the rear which captures the morning sun and also frames the canopies of trees on neighbouring properties as viewed from the study. This solution provides quality natural lighting throughout the day and very private living areas as side facing windows were no longer required at ground level to achieve desired amount of natural lighting.
Supervision:
Visualization:
Tools used:
Construction:
PMD Build
Material:
Natural timbers have been used internally and externally within the upcycled brickwork to balance more stark materials such as glass and concrete. The external materials have been continued through the loving spaces with a double height wall in upcycled brick adding drama and texture to the rear of the house. Oak joinery and flooring, Pacific Teak cladding, grey marble and brass detailing give further richness to the space. Nearly 4000 bricks from the previous property were up-cycled and integrated into the interior and exterior design - although challenging from a builders position, its proven to be a much loved feature of the home for its owners. The form of the dwelling references this typolgy with its oversized pitched roof. Overlooking and overshadowing by the higher northern neighbour has been overcome through the use of skylights. A custom glazed roof was constructed over the living space, with a mezzanine study slotted in underneath the sloping roof form. The roof form of the dwelling has been fragmented to provide ventilation and light into the centre of the house.
Budget:
Undisclosed
Client:
Private
Status:
Built
Typology:
Residential › House

Nick Bell Architects: A work of contemporary architecture, up-cycling and a love of entertaining.

What were the materials used?

Natural timbers have been used internally and externally within the upcycled brickwork to balance more stark materials such as glass and concrete. The external materials have been continued through the loving spaces with a double height wall in upcycled brick adding drama and texture to the rear of the house. Oak joinery and flooring, Pacific Teak cladding, grey marble and brass detailing give further richness to the space.

What was the brief?

The brief for this design was to establish a long term home for a family returning to Australia after ten years living abroad. The aim was to develop a new modern dwelling that provides a warm, welcoming environment and sits comfortably in the streetscape - a blend of city meets coastal design. A key requirement was to provide comfortable spaces for entertaining, living, entertaining, working....and entertaining.

How is the project unique?

The dwelling is located within a street of period homes typified by the low, wide gabled roofs of Californian bungalows. Nearly 4000 bricks from the previous property were up-cycled and integrated into the interior and exterior design - although challenging from a builders position, its proven to be a much loved feature of the home for its owners.

The form of the dwelling references this typolgy with its oversized pitched roof. Overlooking and overshadowing by the higher northern neighbour has been overcome through the use of skylights. A custom glazed roof was constructed over the living space, with a mezzanine study slotted in underneath the sloping roof form. The roof form of the dwelling has been fragmented to provide ventilation and light into the centre of the house. 

What are the sustainability features?

More than 4000 bricks salvaged from the demolition of the previous house form part of a warm material palette and are used extensively throughout the living area of the home and the outside landscaping.

Thermal mass of concrete and brickwork elements, external shading devices and the orientation of glazing has been carefully considered to regulate the internal temperature of the home.


By Liliana Alvarez

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