Platform House

by Studio Plus Three

The Platform House by Studio Plus Three is an urban design response to open spaces and light, whilst offering lush panoramic views with a sense of the horizon.

Set on a triangular block in Sydney’s east, this house is a new living platform of modern contemporary design, which brings light, air and space to a highly constrained site, which previously had imitations of light and open spaces to the original design. Responding to these original design flaw of the house, architects from Studio Plus Three designed two distinct outdoor relationships. At ground level, the existing volume was pared back to create a cool, secluded garden related to the bedrooms; at first floor, living spaces open out to a bright, north-facing deck.

This new living platform creates a continuous horizon line where openings are carefully located in response to trees, greenery and panoramic views. The depth of the south façade provides a dialogue with the street, with deep reveals allowing casual inhabitation of window seats along this elevation.

Key aspects of this house design, is the experience with the western outlook, a lofty fig tree set against the city beyond. Providing seclusion from the street and protection from the western sun, a series of perforated metal screens were installed and set against the tree canopy, help to filter the light. With a vertical gradient of perforations offering privacy to neighbours below and transparency to the sky above.

The cantilevered first floor volume provides shelter to the deck below, and at first floor opens the living spaces out to the north-facing terrace. offering open, social spaces and continuous view to the surrounding treetops.

Playing with contrast, architects used materials which define notions of inner and outer. Dark charred timber cladding is cut away from the volume to reveal pale timber and clean white planes within.

Responding to the triangular site, the diagonal cut is manifested in elements throughout the space. This design aims to integrate functionality into the details to enrich family living, such as the northern edge of the elevated deck, expressed in a continuous element which incorporates planting, outdoor seating, privacy screen, benchtop and storage.

The blackened timber exterior belies a calm, bright interior which becomes the backdrop for dappled light, soft shadows and greenery, playing through the elevated living spaces.

Raised above its urban context, views over and through the canopy expand the perception of interior spaces, whilst the metallic bronze screen filters the movement of light, trees and the setting sun.

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