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Barda House by Walter Barda Design and Cosentino
Spaces effortlessly flow in a new and monumental Bellevue Hill home by Walter Barda Design that highlights Dekton surfaces from Cosentino.
An astounding new compound in Sydney’s Bellevue Hill is a lesson in the art of creating visual fluidity. The clients’ brief for architect Adrian Walter Ball of Walter Barda Design and interior designer Kirsten Bookallil of Stanwix Studios was for a polished, sophisticated residence. “As the property isn’t a huge square metreage and the client wanted as much garden as possible, it became a prerequisite to make the zones internally flow seamlessly to give a good sense of space,” says Bookallil.
From the outside, the home is all straight lines and angles, but inside, curves dominate. Rounded door frames and undulating surfaces work to enhance flow, and a striking sculptural staircase continues the effect between floors.
Acting as a backdrop for these shapely curves are industrial-inspired, white-grey Dekton Lunar custom-cut tiles from Cosentino. Chosen for their versatility, the Dekton tiles were laid as the internal and external flooring, used in the pool area and to line the stairs and walls, and even applied to the shower. This expansive use reinforced the flow and harmony between rooms, and between inside and out.
The expansive use of Cosentino tiles reinforced the flow and harmony between rooms, and between inside and out.
A crucial element in the decision to use the Cosentino tiles, beyond their aesthetic versatility, was their functionality across diverse spaces. Durability is built into the Dekton range; the ultra-compaction process for each slab leaves no micro defects that may lead to structural weakness down the line. The collection’s robust nature makes it as suitable for heavily trafficked areas, including the staircase, as it is for outdoor spaces exposed to the elements, such as the pool zone.
Beyond the functional, the tiles also offered a consistency throughout the home that was critical in accomplishing the clients’ brief for a meticulous flow and polished finishes. Cosentino’s rigorous production process guarantees its tiles are cohesive in appearance. They “blur the lines between spaces, creating a continuous flow that visually expands areas and provides a unified look,” says Adrian Walter Ball. This was particularly effective in establishing fluidity between the interiors and the pool area. “I was keen to have the same tile throughout the house and in the pool, as I felt this would give a smooth transition from internal to external,” says Bookallil.
“I was keen to have the same tile throughout the house and in the pool, as I felt this would give a smooth transition from internal to external.”
Cosentino streamlined the selection options by showing the design team full-sized panels. These panels offered the architect a realistic preview of how the material would look in situ, enabling easier decision-making when it came to colour and texture. It also gave the team confidence that the materials would maintain a cohesive appearance across a large area.
“Overall, the careful selection of materials not only met the practical needs of the project but also elevated the aesthetic quality, ensuring that the design was both beautiful and functional,” says Walter Ball.
Architecture by Walter Barda Design. Interior design by Kirsten Bookallil of Stanwix Studios. Build by BAU Group. Surfaces by Cosentino.
