Modern Villa – North Bondi House by PASSER Architects

Drawing from a love of holidaying amongst warmer and tropical climates, North Bondi House combines an outdoor lived life with a celebration of the traditional villa style. PASSER Architects combines a lightness fused together with a rich base, a balanced insertion of timber and access to natural elements throughout.

Neatly located within the same-named North Bondi, the united form replaces an existing dwelling on the same site, elevated over multiple levels with a clear emphasis on connections outward and inward. In referencing nostalgic memories of vacations in Bali, the brief was formed on creating a relaxed and casual coastal home for its family, familiar and yet uniquely their own. In needing to expand and contract to accommodate visiting family and friends, the spaces also needed to be embedded with flexibility. Through openness both internally and out towards the surrounding landscape, PASSER Architects ensures that the structure can morph as needed.

In referencing nostalgic memories of vacations in Bali, the brief was formed on creating a relaxed and casual coastal home for its family, familiar and yet uniquely their own.

North Bondi House is imagined as an immersion within nature. Aligned east-west along the site, the residence carefully opens and pulls back to allow the interior to be naturally lit and warmed throughout the day. Having seen how the previous structure was oriented, the new was inspired to bring forth natural light. The dense natural surrounds create a feeling of escape and retreat both inside the home and within the site. As its own sanctuary, the functions of the home gently flow between inside and out, where the outside areas become rooms and destinations of their own.

In response to the neighbouring context and to minimise its own overshadowing, the mass of the home is pushed close to the street frontage, both allowing for additional interior space and expanding on the rear yard. By carving a central courtyard, natural light enters through the middle of the home and allows internal rooms to also feel connected to living elements, natural light and to be easily ventilated. The ability to open the structure and breathe is crucial within Sydney and formed an integral driver in how the home needed to function. High level windows also bring in additional light from above and emphasise the already white base palette of materiality throughout, whilst muted timber elements add subtleties of warmth without overpowering.

As its own sanctuary, the functions of the home gently flow between inside and out, where the outside areas become rooms and destinations of their own.

Through a contemporary and crisp lens, North Bondi House emerges as a refined villa experience for its growing family, connecting to their love of Indonesia. PASSER Architects creates a private and secluded home with multiple opportunities to engage with the outdoors, accompanied with a living landscape beyond.