Encouraging an Outdoor Life – The Grove by Corben Architects
Anchored to its site in Mosman through a series of bold masonry gestures, The Grove offers a controlled and classical approach to form as it openly embraces its enviable views outward. Corben Architects utilises vertical stacking and the diffusion of thresholds between inside and out to encourage an outdoor lifestyle.
As a journey spanning some11 years, The Grove was initially conceived for its previous owners before being sold to its current custodians who chose to see the original design through to fruition. Tweaking the intent to match their own unique brief, the overall approach was retained and slowly made its way as a replacement for the Californian bungalow that existed on the site prior. In Sydney’s lower north shore of Mosman, the home retains key landscape elements and conjures a new home as an outward embrace of the enviable views it affords. Combining masonry and glass as the main comprising materiality, there is a sense of balance at play in the resulting contrast. Corben Architects utilises weighted and bold gestures as the ideal anchoring for the light openness of the glazing that visually connects the home to its siting.
Built by Pacific Plus Constructions, The Grove is spread over four generous levels as it ascends upward to embrace views of neighbouring Balmoral Beach. Each floor has its own function, and as a result a natural hierarchy is created, with the top crowning floor becoming the main entertaining and living space with an equally expansive terrace and swimming pool. While the interior is layered with a considered selection of timeless finishes, emphasised by lightness, the focus is undeniably on the view. The creation of clean transitions between inside and out further encourage the flow over of function and the utilisation of the terrace spaces as part of the home.
While the new home captures a contemporary approach to residential living through its open and connected planning and large spans of glass, the original jacaranda tree was retained as a significant representative of the previous narrative of the site. This remnant of the past that stands proud upon the entry, from which point an enduring palette of rendered brickwork, quartzite stone and grey cedar cladding all come together to create a series of light and softly muted spaces. With these zones connected through a collective calm, the home created is one of refuge and retreat.
