North Bondi Project

by Nick Bell Architects

The aim of this project was to create a long-term family home that could evolve with the needs of the family over time and provide a warm and welcoming space for its users and guests. Sustainability was one of the core principles of the brief, with the goal of designing a home that was cool in summer, warm in winter and comfortable in between. The design was also to establish an easy transition from inside to out to allow for a relaxed indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

Generally, the house was organised with common areas on the ground floor and bedrooms on the first floor. A separate bedroom with an ensuite was proposed at ground floor to accommodate family members visiting from overseas and double as a secondary living area/playroom for kids. The living space, which has a generous depth, can be arranged to accommodate additional sitting, play area or an additional study adapting to the changing needs of the family over time.

The living areas are organised in one combined space and connect to the rear terrace and garden via large sliding doors that open in both directions, creating a fluid relationship between indoor and outdoor areas. Operable louvres over the terrace allow for this space to be used year-round.

The material palette was carefully considered to evoke a relaxed beach vibe commensurate with its surroundings in Bondi Beach. Key elements such as the use timber and off form concrete within the façades, timber cladded ceilings, planters and the stair as a sculptural element were designed to uplift the overall design whilst staying in line with the budget. A pitched ceiling with a skylight over further enhances the beauty and experience of the stair and provides natural light to the centre of the house throughout the day.

In an effort to minimise excavation and maximise the use of the permissible building height, the garage was proposed within the front setback. This, together with pitched roofs over the front and master bedrooms, enabled higher ceilings which were important to our client. A pitched ceiling with a skylight over enhances the beauty and experience of the stair as a sculptural element and provides natural light to the centre of the house throughout the day.

The result is a house that produces more energy than it consumes and saves resources (water and electricity). Hydronic heating provides warmth in winter and ducted a/c cools it in summer. These processes are achieved with reduced effort due to the highly insulated walls and ceilings and additional thermal mass provided by PCM incorporated in all external walls as well as double glazed thermally broken aluminium windows throughout. When designing the roof plan, careful consideration was given to maximise space for solar panels to achieve optimum solar gains. The house achieved a 8.3 star Nathers rating.