Project name:

Amaroo Cr, Mosman

Architect:

TDDP Architects

Awards:

WINNER
2021 MBA Excellence in Housing Awards
Contract Houses: $3 million – $4 million

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Project details:

This project is a contemporary family beach house in a Flame Zone, located on a large north-facing sloped block in Balmoral, adjacent to the coastal walk and HMS Platypus.

The overall design feel is of luxury, minimal contemporary interior with lots of storage and a “place for everything”.

Materials used throughout include American Oak flooring, natural stone benchtops and simple wall paneling to selected walls to provide subtle detail and serve as a backdrop to select captured views of the landscape.  

The entry-level consists of a large study (which converts into a guest room) and large bathroom which serves as a guest powder room. The entrance connects to a large open plan kitchen presenting more as furniture with walk-in pantry to conceal all the practical appliances and equipment.  The large floor plan provides for dining, relaxing and entertaining and is elevated and open to the north facing treetops and vistas to the beach.  Large wrap-around covered balconies extend the entertaining areas. A highlight window provides treetop views to the west and provides a lightwell through the ground floor to the bathroom on the lower ground floor.

Lower ground connects to the family room which opens directly to the large pool and north facing entertaining terraces, 3 bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry.  All designed with simplicity and restraint and opening to the external spaces.

Upper level has private access from the entrance which provides an elevated master bedroom suite, large WIR and ensuite.  The perfect spot to retreat from the family.

The site had quite a few building challenges.

Flame Zone

The Flame Zone classification required collaboration between the builder and architect to deliver clean lines and detailing to fully conceal fire shutters.  The selection of flame zone external wall finishes gives the appearance of a weatherboard house all whilst meeting the Fire Zone requirements.

A bowser system was incorporated on the roof and external ceilings with fire cans on external downlights providing compliance.

The site has difficult access via a series of small winding roads. This required consideration and communication with all deliveries, from excavation and concrete trucks to delivery of trusses and PC items. Small trucks where often used to swap loads from larger trucks to make the bends and winding network of roads if suppliers only had large truck options.

The excavation on the steep site also provided challenges. Both removal of spoil and retention of sediment control required thought. After careful consideration, the excavation had to start from the bottom of the project and work its way out. This required construction of the piling and pool first.

A 5m deep 20m long sewer encasement was required. The sewer is at the top of the site. As there was no room on site to store spoil as the excavator made its way up the site, removal was required, and spoil was stored offsite. Once the sewer was encased, spoil could be brought back after the retaining walls of the house where built.

Weekly meetings with the Architect enabled a smooth transition throughout the construction and provided some seamless detailing.

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