castlecrag
–

awards / 2001 raia architecture award for single and multiple housing
2004 willoughby council heritage awards shortlisted

project team / andy harding, andrew stanic, kate tregloan, peta heffernan
builder / paul king pty ltd
joiner / skalkos woodwork designs
structural engineer / chapman hutchison pty ltd
photography / paul gosney

The Castlecrag House is the result of major alterations to an existing 1960s house for a couple making the move from a mission brown terrace house located in Stanmore, one street back from Parramatta Road, to the bush suburb of Castlecrag. They now find themselves in a carefully sited multi-level house with considered connections to water views, bushland and surrounding treetops.

Early in the design stage it was obvious that the existing house would need to be almost completely rebuilt. This was due to its poor orientation on the steep sloping site, its lack of connection to the landscape plus poor existing light infiltration and limited ventilation opportunities.

The renovated house now consists of three levels, the upper level is made up of the garage/driveway and roof terrace. The middle level comprises the entry courtyard, living/dining and kitchen spaces, as well as the master bedroom. A second bathroom and further bedrooms make up the lower level.

Forming an exterior room, the entry courtyard links the kitchen and interior living areas to northern light. A large deck is a connection between the interior and the surrounding bushland and treetops beyond. The roof deck adjoining the garage/driveway continues this link allowing views out to Middle Harbour.

A four-metre high laminated glass wall acts as a suntrap, compensating for the existing orientation, flooding the living space with natural light. The resultant effect is the enlivening of a simple robust white interior complimented by the sensitive use of timber, coloured glass, stainless steel and stone. 

Leading down to the two bedrooms and the second bathroom is a stair with its point of origin in the living room, ultimately culminating in the open landscape of the garden area which is a combination of natural bushland and a hovering timber platform.