Sun Herald 03 May 2015

THE SUN HERALD
MAY 3, 2015
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x 9
Amazing design on Sunday
TRISHA CROAKER
A light-filled new build in Woollahra maximises the enjoyment of an established garden.
Photo: Michael Nicholson
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See the light with a ‘garden
house’ in an urban setting
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THE BRIEF
The owners, a young couple with
three children under 10, wanted to
create ‘‘a house in a garden’’ – a
garden they could flow out into, see
from any angle, entertain in, live in,
and where ‘‘children could play’’.
They wanted a house that suited
their family, that allowed them ‘‘to
be together’’.
Ideally, downstairs should be
one level only. Importantly, an old,
established magnolia tree, one of
the key emotional drivers in their
www.eldersjamberoo.com.au
decision to buy the property,
should be retained. On a practical
level, the couple also considered
future resale. Accordingly, their
brief included a fireplace, selfcontained nanny’s quarter-cumgranny flat, separate living-dining
spaces, and a walk-in wardrobe.
THE CHALLENGE
The site presented several
challenges. Located on the eastern
side of two sloping hills, the
compact wedge-shaped block
KEY
1 Outdoor dining
2 Lap pool
3 Living & dining
4 Bedroom
5 Kitchen
GROUND FLOOR
6 Living & dining
7 Garage
straddled a gully and sat over a
natural watercourse.
On the plus side, it offered
delightful, treed district views and
sat in a well-vegetated, quiet
street. From the outset, the
existing brick house with Cape Cod
extension was deemed
unworkable, with the wrong
orientation contributing to a home
that was ‘‘dark and cold in winter
and a lot like a sauna in summer’’.
DESIGN APPROACH
The successful creation of a quietly
joyous ‘‘garden house’’ is apparent
upon arrival. Gardens extend to
the footpath edge, and entry is
through a ‘‘gate’’ acting as front
‘‘door’’ to an indoor-outdoor
verandah flanked by lush gardens
to the north and house to the south.
trish.croaker@gmail.com
Jamberoo - The Lifestyle you deserve!
59 Burra Creek
Road,
Jamberoo
Quartersessions
Road,
Jamberoo
125 Minnamurra
Falls Road,
Jamberoo
• Architect designed, Quality
built Residence on 1 acre
• Quiet location with
privacy assured
• Large impressive
4 Bedrooms + Study,
4 Bathrooms, 4 Car Garage
• Fully self-contained Studio
with its own entry
• Light filled Conservatory
with wonderful rural views
• Solar power, heat exchange
HWS, 100,000 litres
of stored water
• Combustion heater,
Air-conditioning,
European appliances
in spacious kitchen
• 207 ACRES of Rainforest,
• 50 acres of undulating
pasture with creek
& river boundaries
• Majority pasture
improved river flats
• Substantial home with
wraparound verandahs
• Plenty of farming
infrastructure,
machinery sheds, workshops
• 90,000 ltr stored water,
bore water and irrigation
from Minnamurra River
• Situated in quiet valley
only 5 minutes to
Jamberoo Village
WebID 7659169
WebID 7506400
WebID 427687
Living the Good Life: $1,280,000
Absolute Privacy!: $1,450,000
Rivers Run: $1,790,000
ELDERS REAL ESTATE JAMBEROO
Australian Bush with approx..
70 acres Pine Plantation
• Warm & Cosy Log Cabin
- 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom,
Single Garage
• Wraparound Verandahs
on all 4 sides
• Tank Water &
Generator Power
• Machinery shed,
Outdoor Shower
• Amazing bike or hike tracks
“Noorinan Glen”
Jamberoo
• Stunning location on
Saddleback Mountain
• 100 acres with breathtaking
views north to coastline
over rural pastures
• Magnificent Master built
residence in elevated
position
• Central 2 storey Antrim
featuring rainforest garden
• Main bedroom w/luxury
ensuite, walk-in dressing
room & Study
• Bedrooms 2 & 3 have own
ensuites, Bedroom 4 has
external entry
• Massive childrens playground
& established gardens
• Private access with
tranquility assured
WebID 6575827
Your Own Piece of Paradise
Offers above $2,95 Million
G7640829AA-030515
new house in Woollahra
on a small block offers an
inspiring example of how
to accommodate the many
needs of a large(ish) family –
without sacrificing privacy,
outdoor space, or a lush garden.
Designed by Tzannes
Associates, this ‘‘garden house’’
challenges issues of urban density,
offering a delightful alternative to
the ghastly armada of large homes
on tight sites forfeiting all of the
above.
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The new home has been oriented
north to maximise light. It’s
positioned as much as possible
over the old footprint, with the
architects using the tightest,
south-eastern edge of the wedge to
maximise garden space with
access to light. They then created
two light brick, timber and glass
pavilions (or wings) anchored and
rotated fluidly either side of the
kitchen. Flowing east, they pivoted
a two-storey informal family space
– family living down, sleepingbathing up.
To the west and the street, they
pivoted a large double-height
entertainment public room.
Ground-floor public and family
spaces were opened dramatically
to northerly light and the garden,
with the public room raked up from
a minimum ceiling height of 2.4
metres to the south to 4.35-metrehigh, retractable doors.
Private spaces upstairs,
including the children’s bedrooms,
bathrooms and the nanny’s
quarter, were opened to views,
light and air to the east and
indirectly to the west. The parent’s
retreat was opened on three sides
courtesy of oversized square
windows to the north, east and
west.
Phone: (02) 42360891 (7 days) Vivienne Marris – 0402 101343
1HERSA1 0009