丨澳大利亚新南威尔士

The North Curl Curl House works with the many levels and natural sandstone cliff, cave and wall features of its spectacular site, drawing these elements within the architecture rather than opposing them.

They were in love with the panoramic views from the upper levels of the site, stretching from Dee Why head to Bondi Junction, but the 17m rise from the street including 3.5m projecting sandstone cave and 4.5m vertical sandstone wall between the street and top combined with exposed southern orientation posed a unique design challenge. The dream brief was to simultaneously provide ‘The Wow Factor’ while catering to the reality of family life.

The concept for our architectural solution centres on drawing these spectacular elements into the architecture as an integral part of the composition. In turn the design fragments, with each piece capturing panoramic ocean views to the southeast, and reaching for precious northern sunlight from the rear. All are linked by circulation and courtyards that celebrate the natural landscape.

The architectural strategy began with fusing key spaces with key site features: the living wing hovering over the sandstone cave, internal courtyard organised around the flanking sandstone cliff, and finally family room and backyard space high at the northern, green level area of the site. External circulation is celebrated, meandering at the most minimal grade possible, along the driveway, past the guest house, back under the cave, swooping up its side to the main house entry at which point the panorama is first glimpsed before you.

Upon entering the house, the sandstone cliff is immediately framed, ocean panorama through corner windows to the southeast and the gentle circulation continues up an internal hill around the natural courtyard culminating in the family and external living areas above linked to the landscape. The many subtle split terrace levels in the main house always referring gently to the natural topography with which the house is one, internally and externally.

The material language of concrete, black zinc, timber and glass celebrates the architectonic organisation of the whole, hinting at the function of each element in isolation and referencing the immediate material palette of the site – landscape, sandstone and water. Each material will improve with age.

This project retains all key natural site features, excavates only what is necessary, utilises passive solar heating and cooling, employs cross ventilation and hydronic heating in the concrete slab and features only Australian recycled hardwoods.

North Curl Curl House won the coveted Housing Industry Association Australian Home of the Year 2021 and HIA Australian Custom Built home 2021. In 2020 it won a clean sweep of the HIA Custom Built Home Award for budgets between $2million and $4million AUD, Custom Built Home Award across all budget ranges and the HIA NSW Home of the year 2020. It was featured on Grand Designs Australia on Australian Television and on the front cover of The Best of Grand Designs Australia Volume 2 Book in 2019. The North Curl Curl House was completed October 2018 on time and on budget.

North Curl Curl House

Type: Single Residence, New

Location: North Curl Curl NSW, Australia

Client: Private Family

Budget: Undisclosed

Timeframe: 2013-2018

Status: Complete

Project Team

Architect: Andrew Donaldson Architecture and Design

ADAD Team: Andrew Donaldson, Scott Kirby, Martin Stewart, Brendan Boyle, Anthony Parsons

Structural Engineer: Michael Ell Consulting Engineers

Hydraulic Engineer: ITM Design

Lighting Consultant: Special Lighting

Feature Cabinet Design: Filip Janssens

Landscape Architect: Emily Simpson Landscape Architecture

Builder: Mallinger Constructions

Joiner: Husk&Co.

Photography: Barton Taylor Photography

Awards

HIA Australian Home of the Year – Housing Industry Association – National (2021)

HIA Custom Built Home Award (all budget ranges) – Housing Industry Association – National (2021)

HIA Home of the Year – Housing Industry Association NSW Chapter (2020)

HIA Custom Built Home Award (all budget ranges) – Housing Industry Association NSW Chapter (2020)

HIA Custom Built Home ($2m – $4m budget range) – Housing Industry Association NSW Chapter (2020)

Dezeen Awards International Longlist – House Interior (2020)

Houses Awards National Shortlist – New House over 200sqm (2019)

National Joinery Award – FIAA Best Built-In Furniture Australia (2018)

National Architectural Design Award – Realflame Fireplace Design (2017)

Publications

“Top Form” – Australian House & Garden (2021)

“Castle In The Sky” – Grand Designs Australia Issue 9.2 (2020)

“A Cliffhanging Win” – Home Magazine, Saturday Daily Telegraph (2020)

“Headland House” – Grand Designs Australia TV (Channel 4 / UK) (2020)

“Curl Curl” – The Best of Grand Designs Australia Volume 2 (2019)

“Headland House” – Grand Designs Australia TV (Foxtel / Lifestyle) (2019)

“Research Through Design” – Architecture Australia AA 106 (2017)

“Andrew Donaldson Architecture and Design” – Architectural Review (Asia Pacific) AR 141 (2015)

“Out-of-the-Box Design for House on the Hill” – Sun Herald (2015)

Andrew Donaldson

Architecture & Design

T (+61) 2 9055 9200

Suite 76, Level 7 / 61 Marlborough St

Surry Hills NSW 2010

PO Box 623 Surry Hills NSW 2010