North Bondi House.
Nestled in a quiet, leafy backstreet of North Bondi, this house was conceived to harness natural light and frame surrounding view corridors, enhancing spatial quality and connection to its coastal context.
Conceived for a growing family, the reconfigured layout was designed to accommodate a diverse and flexible program — including multiple living areas, four bedrooms anchored by a generous master suite, a dedicated home office, gym, and wine store.
The existing house was hampered by a poorly considered rear addition that compromised both natural light and access to outdoor space. Its removal was fundamental to reconnecting the dwelling with the garden and restoring a sense of openness and lightness throughout.
The site descends by a full storey from street level to the rear boundary, allowing Level 1 living spaces to open onto an elevated west-facing terrace, while the northeast-facing garden enjoys optimal solar access throughout the day.
From the outset, the structure was envisioned as a prefabricated Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) volume, craned into place atop the existing structure. A simple extruded gable form echoes the original footprint, maintaining a respectful dialogue with the existing architecture.
This upper level is strategically recessed from the primary façade to form a private terrace off the master bedroom, bordered by integrated planter beds that mediate views and enhance privacy. West-facing windows are protected by steel plate hoods, while to the rear, bedroom windows are deeply recessed behind planters to soften the built edge. Operable Blackbutt timber screens provide both solar control and visual privacy.
The original entry sequence has been retained, with a landscaped courtyard garden leading to the front door. A straight-run stair delivers occupants to the Level 1 living areas, where a new double-height void connects the primary living zone with the upper floor. A sculptural staircase, paired with a vertical south-facing window and a skylight above the Level 2 hallway, introduces filtered daylight into the heart of the plan. A glass floor panel below the skylight further animates the kitchen and central spaces with shifting light.
Architecturally, the new upper level is expressed as a timber-clad volume, contrasting with the robust masonry base. A tactile palette of white-painted ribbed timber cladding, rough-rendered walls, slender steel detailing, Blackbutt timber window frames, and travertine crazy paving lend warmth and material richness.
Internally, the beachside character is continued with a restrained palette of oak and terrazzo flooring, Blackbutt timber joinery, and natural stone, establishing a cohesive dialogue between form, materiality, and context.
Builder: AJP Constructions
Structural Eng: Cantilever
Town Planner: GSA Planning
Landscape: Tanya Wood
Hydraulic Engineer: ITM Design
Images: Pablo Veiga
Styled: Holly Irvine
