25/05/2026
Recently completed project on Gadigal land, North Bondi.
A new home for a family of five that transforms the challenges of an overshadowed and flood-prone site into opportunities for light, openness, and resilience.
The two-storey house draws in abundant daylight through two offset courtyards, responding to the need for a light-filled and airy home where young children can grow and thrive. The previous dwelling on the site had suffered from persistent dampness, flooding, and a lack of daylight due to the scale of neighbouring properties and the orientation of openings. The new home was conceived as its antithesis, a place of recovery and wellbeing, a living breathing home defined by generosity of light and openness to coastal sea breezes. It is also designed to become the house on the street where friends gather and play. Two living spaces on the ground floor are separated by a courtyard, providing flexible zones for concurrent entertaining. Retractable doors allow the secondary living area to function as guest accommodation when needed. A homework bench is strategically positioned adjacent to the kitchen and oriented toward the courtyard, while a home office sits directly above, creating opportunities to gaze out and rest the eyes.
The two courtyards, north and south, are staggered to form a Z-shape in plan, peeling open the footprint to draw in light and air while delineating distinct zones. A stair to the north also functions as a light scoop, which is paired with a meshed floor. The upper level contains three bedrooms and a parents’ retreat with a generous ensuite and walk-in robe. Slatted timber shutters to the west provide shade and privacy to the bedrooms while animating the facade. Floodwater storage and controlled release are facilitated through an elevated ground plane with hit and miss brickwork.
Builder Hatch Constructions Group
Engineer Acroyali Engineering
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