Project Overview

Flame Zone House began with the replacement of an ageing weatherboard home on a steep site adjoining a nature reserve. Originally conceived as a weekend escape from city life, the new residence was designed to eventually become the owners’ permanent family home.

The brief called for a private, practical and contemporary home with a strong connection to its natural surroundings. Rather than resembling a conventional suburban residence, the design responds directly to the site, nestling into the slope while capturing lake views to the north-east and the adjoining nature reserve to the west.

Outdoor living was central to the design, along with capturing prevailing breezes and creating visual connections between the home, pool and surrounding landscape.

Design and Layout

Kept deliberately compact at less than 250sqm, the two-storey residence includes three bedrooms and a study. Natural, robust and fire-resistant materials form the foundation of the material palette, with off-form concrete and brick extending from the exterior into interiors featuring natural stone and timber veneer.

Ground Floor

The ground floor accommodates two bedrooms, a family bathroom, study and master suite with walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. The master ensuite, including a bath and shower, looks directly towards the nature reserve.

An east-west corridor creates a strong visual connection through the home while acting as a breezeway to encourage natural ventilation. The laundry connects directly with the garage and a north-facing drying courtyard.

First Floor

The upper level is rotated 15 degrees to maximise the expansive 180-degree outlook towards the lake.

An open-plan kitchen, living and dining area forms the heart of the home, opening onto a wraparound deck for outdoor living, dining and entertaining. A powder room and secondary desk area are discreetly incorporated within the stair and circulation zone.

Burnished heated concrete floors are paired with an off-form concrete ceiling featuring integrated cast-in lighting, reinforcing the home’s restrained material palette.

Key Features

• 15-metre lap pool positioned to create a visual connection from throughout the home.

• Upper floor rotated 15 degrees to maximise lake views while creating a distinctive separation between the two levels.

• Integrated bushfire shutters, including a 6.5-metre shutter and a roller shutter incorporated within the western concrete cantilever.

• Oversized 2.1-metre-wide by 2.7-metre-high glass sliding doors integrated with bushfire shutters and retractable Centor flyscreens.

• Off-form concrete roof and ceiling construction designed to meet stringent bushfire requirements while maintaining the architectural intent.

• Taj Mahal Quartzite stone and Briggs Biscotti veneer used throughout the joinery.

• Carefully planned driveway and turning circle providing access to the garage and allowing vehicles to exit via the rear street.

Construction Challenges

Building on a steep site within the highest bushfire risk category, BAL-FZ, required extensive planning, engineering and coordination. The property was also subject to multiple environmental and planning constraints, including landslide risk, flood hazard, riparian land, wildlife corridor, coastal wetland and biodiversity considerations.

The adjoining classified vegetation reserve created additional requirements for materials and construction within the 10-metre zone. A fire engineer was engaged to develop performance solutions for materials and building elements that had not been tested to AS1530.8.2.

Site access presented another significant challenge. Cranes were required to transport materials across the difficult terrain, while the positioning of the driveway, garage, 15-metre lap pool and dispersion trench all needed to be carefully resolved within the constraints of the steep site.

The completed home brings these complex requirements together within a cohesive architectural response, balancing bushfire resilience, functionality and a strong connection to its natural setting.