Conceptually Pure – House Bondi Beach by Carla Middleton Architecture
Featuring saw-toothed geometry, House Bondi Beach is creatively authentic, seeing Carla Middleton Architecture craft a home of distinctly unique architectural elements. The structure emerges from a rigorous analysis of both the client brief and the gently sloping landscape.
House Bondi Beach resides in the same named suburb, which is also known as Boondi by the local Gadigal people. Whilst the brief detailed a variety of desired domestic experiences, including work, entertainment and private retreats, the length of the site prompted a definitive and structural response unique to Carla Middleton Architecture. The exterior of the home is carved into a distinctive saw-toothed pattern on the northern side, seeing protruding areas enclose internal spaces and receding exterior spaces filled in with lush gardens.
Carla Middleton Architecture conceives the two aspects of the zigzag architecture – the internal space and the external garden – as harmoniously interactive, purposefully slotted together to create a healthy living environment.
Responding to the exteriority, the interior of House Bondi Beach navigates sharply angled rooms and a sloping profile. Carla Middleton Architecture conceives the two aspects of the zigzag architecture – the internal space and the external garden – as harmoniously interactive, purposefully slotted together to create a healthy living environment. The mindful design intent is then reinforced by large panes of glass that soften the visual barrier between the two zones. Responding to the terrain, the journey through the house is defined by the act of stepping down into the rear of the property. Entering the home, a wide hallway leads you into the site where diagonal passageways veer to a large rumpus and then down into the living-kitchen-dining area. Stairs delineate both the downstairs space and the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms.
The bold nature of House Bondi Beach’s façade extends to its materiality, with a white pebbledash render showcasing the contemporary application of a more traditional plaster. Internally, European oak features in the flooring, timber staircase and refined balustrades, forming a point of calming material consistency throughout the home. Using expressive tiling, the three bathrooms are imbued with individual character. The main bathroom is a particular triumph; muted grey tiles arranged in a chevron pattern create a soothing and subtly textural surface, complementing the glossy white bathtub.
Responding to the exteriority, the interior of House Bondi Beach navigates sharply angled rooms and a sloping profile.
In a field where ideas can be limited by council controls, budget and buildability, House Bondi Beach remains conceptually pure. The completed residence thoroughly expresses the vision of Carla Middleton Architecture and the precision of M&G Building, existing as a geometric masterpiece.
