Greenwich 02

To the rear, an elevated lounge area with soaring double-height glazing captures views of the landscape like a living artwork.

Set on a generous 1,000-square-metre block with a gentle southern slope, the home revolves around three lush courtyards at the front, centre and rear. Each room on the ground floor is oriented to these gardens, creating a sense of flow and openness throughout. The breezy main living area is tucked between two courtyards, while the kitchen and dining zone opens directly to the central garden. To the rear, an elevated lounge area with soaring double-height glazing captures views of the landscape like a living artwork.

The sense of flow between inside and out is made effortless by the home’s adaptable design. Retractable doors disappear completely into the walls, layered openings let spaces breathe, and sheer, full-height curtains give a sense of privacy while still filtering in light and air. These rooms adapt to the time of day or season – and on warm days, can feel more like shaded outdoor pavilions than interior spaces.

The facade is defined by a masonry grid that frames views and creates a threshold that blurs inside and outside.

Upstairs, the mood shifts toward retreat and seclusion. The bedrooms and bathrooms overlook the courtyard gardens below, with each space carefully arranged to frame a different aspect of the surrounding greenery. Central bathrooms allow for more natural light in the bedrooms, while screening and plantings filter views and maintain privacy. The bathrooms themselves are generous and light-filled, with natural stone finishes adding a sense of understated luxury.

The facade is defined by a masonry grid that frames views and creates a threshold that blurs inside and outside. Yet it maintains softness through integrated planters which bring greenery up the facade, offering both a visual connection to the garden and privacy from neighbours. Materiality is a core consideration for ess. “Different materials and combinations of materials provide different experiences to different people,” says Phegan. “And certain materials are more important to certain places than others.”

“We see people, place and environment as the key aspects of the creation of the experiences we make through our buildings.”

That material sensitivity is evident throughout the home. A restrained palette of stone, aluminium, glass and warm timber embeds the home in its surroundings and creates continuity between exterior and interior. Inside, pale timber floors and soft-toned stone create a calm backdrop for a curated selection of vintage and modern furnishings and artwork. In the kitchen, the dramatic veining of Calacatta marble on the island and splashback forms a striking contrast to the soft garden views beyond.

ess’s design philosophy places people and emotion at the heart of every project, allowing the studio to focus on feeling as well as form. “We create experiences for people, and our buildings are the vehicles for this – much like movies, food and music are,” explains Phegan. “We see people, place and environment as the key aspects of the creation of the experiences we make through our buildings.”