Grounded Expression – Kyle Bay House by Greg Natale

Inspired by the brutalist architectural styles of Brazil, Kyle Bay House combines layers of warmth through natural materiality and an animated colour palette to invigorate the home. Greg Natale ensures each space feels like its own destination, whilst still allowing the outer structure of the form to be expressed as a key experience of the residence from within.

Comprising multiple levels, Kyle Bay House anchors its form to the sloping terrain on site and allows for a clear connection to be made through open façades on each floor. Creating a hierarchy of passive and active areas, each level offers different functionalities and are connected by a common staircase throughout. Incorporating off-form concrete slabs for the outer structure of the residence further expresses a strength and grounding on site. Looking to Brazilian influences of the brutalist style, where concrete is used in large linear spans, Greg Natale ensures a sense of drama is created both externally and within.

Looking to Brazilian influences of the brutalist style, where concrete is used in large linear spans, Greg Natale ensures a sense of drama is created both externally and within.

Modernist in nature, a layered approach sees the three levels of the residence stacked neatly on top of one another, with each one extending out to create terrace and balcony spaces to lengthen the interior. The concrete grid forms the bones of the home and is left exposed as a key element of the interior, supporting the underside of select ceiling spaces whilst adding a sculptural nod. To soften the seemingly cold hardness of the concrete, rosewood timber is used to add warmth and emphasise a natural link to the site.

Enviably looking out over the Georges River, an optimised view is balanced with the lush and densely tropical landscape that the house sits upon. Internally, a similar balance is also achieved by combining the unfinished concrete with refined joinery insertions and the integration of colour in various interpretations. Each level and space embodies individuality, adding a playfulness to the home as a result. The sunken lounge space forms an important central meeting place and its integration among the architecture grounds the notion of open living being essential to contemporary homes.

Each level and space embodies individuality, adding a playfulness to the home as a result.

Animated through a contrasting and complementary palette, Kyle Bay House is identified by the open boldness of its concrete outer form. Greg Natale inserts a confidence in the merging of different styles to reflect the owner and create a nuanced home as a result.