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Casa Vista by Bevan Boss Design and Atelier Alwill
On Sydney’s magnificent harbour, Casa Vista by Bevan Boss Design and Atelier Alwill sees European-inspired ideals converge with an Australian sensibility.
Vaucluse is an idyll in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs; yachts bob in the coves that dot its coastline while grand heritage and contemporary homes line the undulating landscape. Casa Vista is one such home, and its recent reimagining by Bevan Boss Design, Atelier Alwill and Critharis befits the suburb’s picturesque repute.
Located on a large, sloping site orientated towards north-facing harbour views, Casa Vista is an extensive alterations and additions project. The design language, inspired by the clients’ fond memories of sailing through the Mediterranean, brings together classic forms and a contemporary sensibility.
At the front, the arches and undercover walkway, which nod to neoclassical and Roman-style architecture, serve an important purpose, creating a protected entrance. “Rather than having the front door exposed and on display to the street, there is a buffering space to allow those arriving to transition from the public to the private realm,” says Bevan Boss.
Inside, the layout unfurls as a series of warm and luxurious spaces bathed in natural light. The central staircase, with French oak treads from Made by Storey’s Tonal collection, is the first prominent design feature. The timber is rich and tactile against the decorative looped white steel balustrade, and a single stone tread at the staircase’s foot is monolithic and grounding. Beyond this, the kitchen and living areas are loosely defined and spacious. “These are the heart of the home, where everyone can interact but not be on top of one another,” says Boss. Openings in the architecture frame the tree canopy and slices of sky, while arched windows throughout the home reinforce the project’s stylistic influences.
It is supremely calming, enhanced by the subdued, neutral palette of Venetian plaster, split-face textured stone and natural timber. Many of these materials and finishes are found throughout Casa Vista; namely, the Made by Storey timber flooring in California – a light-coloured French oak with hints of grey – which has been used as stair treads, flooring in the main living spaces and ceiling cladding on the lower level.
“This not only connects the two floors but also creates a striking feature that sets Casa Vista apart,” says Critharis’s managing director, Will Critharis. He adds that “the seamless integration of timber flooring throughout the home, along with the cladding on the ceiling of the rumpus room, showcases architectural and construction ingenuity and fosters a warm, inviting atmosphere.”
The tactility of the palette is instrumental in Casa Vista’s serene interiors, and Romy Alwill’s considered curation of furniture and lighting works in harmony with Boss’s architectural insertions and additions, creating a palpable tranquillity. “The shell of the interior is intentionally simple so that the overlay of furniture and fixtures provides gentle layering that nourishes the interior envelope but is easy to live with,” says Alwill.
Moments of visual delight animate Casa Vista – be it glimpses of the harbour, dappled sunlight on timber surfaces or the interplay of textiles and natural materials. Critharis says the interiors evoke the “feeling of being on vacation anywhere in the world,” crediting “the meticulous attention to detail – including elements that may go unnoticed – that bring this concept to life.”
Architecture by Bevan Boss Design. Interior design by Bevan Boss Design and Atelier Alwill. Build by Critharis. Flooring by Made by Storey.
