Playing with volumetric bodies and angled lines, this elegant and minimalist family home sets a powerful tone. Further achieved by a strong focus on materiality and texture. A central courtyard forms the centrepiece of the home, mediating between the build form and the in-between spaces. A true entertainers haven.

KA Project Team 

Christian Campoy 

Photography

Derek Henderson

From the initial sketch stage through to material realisation, this project offers a rationalised material selection that forms the mould for a staggered play between solid and void, opaque and transparent.

Located on the eastern coast of NSW with panoramic views on the ocean on one side and street frontage on the other we have two defining site conditions that will characterise this house.

The street side presents an undulating play of materials established by a recognition of internal formal spaces. Entries become cut outs in the building and screens allow a lower level of permeability for the areas of privacy in the home.

On the ocean front, the house simplifies into expressed slabs and glass accentuating views toward the ocean.

Collaborating with an artist on the project we intend to further this play of material between the common theme of Art & build form. The use of a artist work as the screening system and as sculpture is the inherent double front this house will display to the street below.

KA Project Team

 Sebastian Kaintoch, Christian Campoy

 A deep setback of the existing house allows us to utilise the majority of the front yard of this project to create a private internal courtyard with plenty of north facing aspects. The regular concrete geometries of the the first floor hang over the ground floors light open characteristics as it blends the inside to the outside through a series of larges openings and sunken courtyard.  A long walkway that doubles as an art display, hovers over the green courtyard that run alongside it and creates a connection between the garage, gym and back up to the house. This arrangement forms the courtyard space as a centrepiece that mediates between the build form and the in-between spaces.

KA Project Team

Christian Campoy, Lisa Tackenberg, Sebastian Kaintoch

MM House developed from the desire to make specific connections with Sydney Harbour’s iconic landscape. A heightened sense of transparency articulates a thick plan – situating domestic life against the sublime natural and urban backdrop of the harbour and city skyline.

The orientation and configuration of the house curate a series of view points that link the domestic realm to the landscape beyond. The subtle level changes uncover new aspects of the harbour landscape and provide delineation of space within the plan.

The house is formally geometric – but is punctured by courtyards and breaks that offer unexpected vistas, and lend complexity to the section. Stripped of enclosing walls living spaces orientate outward, diffusing thresholds through a series of operable glazed doors. Double height voids in the living and courtyard spaces extend this connection, with the view presented as a ‘series of moments’ when making one’s way through the home.

The project has been designed to be robust and endure the setting of a coastal environment. With the advancements in material technologies realised in bionics, the external facade is enveloped in a self cleaning render. Allowing nature to clean and revitalise the facade whilst repelling harsh abrasive salts from the harbour.

In order to move away from a predominately flat surface resolution, characterised by contemporary applications of render, we adopted a hand crafted technique. The render is applied by spraying the substructure then hand pressing with a trowel, giving depth and irregularity to the strong geometric form. Internally the house materialises as an arrangement of refined surfaces and details, layered against the raw and elemental nature of concrete, marble and timber. This play, balances the homes reduced external palette and invites warmth and tactility to the project.

KA Project Team

 Lisa Tackenberg, Christian Campoy, Sebastian Kaintoch