Description

This site is located in a thickly wooded reserve in close proximity to Middle Harbour in the northern suburbs of Sydney. The site slopes steeply from a gravel track down to the north where it adjoins a park. Access from the gravel track allowed all the living areas and bedrooms to fan out to the sun and views. The house relates to the terrain, stepping down and across the site over five levels.

On the top floor the master bedroom and office float in the tree tops, high above the ground, enjoying privacy and unimpeded views through dense vegetation and to the harbor. The entry level accommodates kitchen, dining, and sunroom with a living area on a sunken/split level. A two-car garage is also provided at this level. Two split lower levels accommodate the children's bedrooms and play areas. The different floor levels are connected by an open tread staircase wrapped in translucent glass, which acts as a pivot.

In order to minimise the intrusion on the site, a steel framing system was developed which allowed the house to hover above the terrain. The house was loosely organised around a 6 by 6 meter structural grid which established a series of pods to accommodate and express the various spaces and activities in the house. The structure is feathered at the edges by way of cantilevers to reinforce a sense of weightlessness.

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