Captain’s Desk
Hidden away within Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Captain’s Desk is perched high above sea level, facing an ever-changing vista of the Pacific Ocean.
At the top of the building sits a collaborative study space where two desks offer residents a breathtaking 180-degree outlook over rolling waves, cruise ships, dolphin pods and shoals of fish that draw seabirds in their wake. Though Luigi Rosselli Architects responds well to the challenges of a constrained site, it is the home’s connection to the rhythms of coastal life that leaves a lasting impression for the occupants of this vertical home by the sea.
Anchoring this lofty retreat is a base of rammed earth, chosen as the main material for the external walls to brace the house against unfettered ocean winds. From the street, Captain’s Desk reads as a slender vertical home, its windows screened by Western red cedar latticework shutters. To the rear, the full extent of the design is revealed: three storeys unfold onto winding stepped balconies. A terraced garden, pool and entertaining area are all unified by lush landscaping by Dangar Barin Smith, beautifully blending the home into its surroundings.
Inside, Captain’s Desk evokes the feeling of navigating the Pacific Ocean. The chequered latticework screens cast shifting patterns of light and shadow, tracing the sun’s movement through the sky. Materials, shapes and forms are altogether richly layered, reminiscent of modern art: the arc of a crisp white timber-clad ceiling meets the sculpted mass of rammed earth.
Interior designer Romaine Alwill of Atelier Alwill has breathed life into a familiar coastal palette of whites, sand tones and blue hues. Oak wall panelling and timber flooring ground the interiors with a sense of warmth and invitation. The space draws residents in – and back out again – perhaps just to catch another glimpse of the breathtaking scenery. Architectural details such as the joinery, stair handrails and door pulls heighten the home’s tactile, sensory experience. Gentle shifts in levels, layered materials and framed ocean views work together to create a calm, restorative atmosphere.
Captain’s Desk is ultimately a quiet retreat from the demands of modern life. When stepping inside, there’s an immediate connection to the landscape – from the ancient Hawkesbury sandstone to the deep turquoise blues of the Pacific Ocean.
Architecture by Luigi Rosselli Architects. Interior design by Atelier Alwill. Build by Kinn Construction. Landscape design by Dangar Barin Smith.
