FOREVER HOUSE

Located on Sydney's Northern beaches the Forever House strikes a balance between modesty and tenacity. Influenced by its topography, context, and district views, the two storey home perches itself above the street, orientated towards views of Middle Harbour to the South yet it remains constrained in form as the result of a relatively simple floor plan. A dilapidated dwelling with poor planning and environmental issues was demolished to provide a clean slate for the new dwelling.

Direct northern light is invited into the home from the northern rear yard, where a double height exterior void allows that light to enter deep into the plan at the ground floor living zone. In this respect the primary stair, designed to be as invisible as possible, flanks a double height glazed wall connecting both floor levels to northern natural light. At the first floor a skinny void separates the adult and child zones and extends the path of natural light down. The overall form has been shaped like a tube that establishes privacy to both east and west side neighbours whilst landscape and traditional screening devices visually detach the home from the high side rear neighbours. The streetscape landscape is elevated above the street providing additional privacy from ambling pedestrians.

Off form concrete and timber combine as the dominant materials of the home's palette, with the finer elements typically being detailed in black steel/metal. Where needed the home is both solid + robust or light and inviting, and this balance of positive and negative forms create a combination of purposeful spaces.

Passive solar design defines the home and it’s tube like massing invites both Sydney’s north-easterly and south-easterly breezes through the interior. Rainwater is harvested and fed directly back into the landscape as required.

Whilst there is a strong emphasis on the view to the south, light and privacy are controlled where required, especially in the more private rooms of the home, to create absolute seclusion. The home operates in a constant state of calm and whilst its footprint is unassuming, there are still enough spaces to escape to when one needs to find solitude, and each zone of the home has it’s own unique purpose. The private and public areas of the home are defined by stratified levels, noting the most private zones are at the end of the circulation journey. Bedrooms and bathrooms have been arranged on the first floor, interior + living zones at the ground floor and services and lower use spaces at basement level, including a modest rumpus that borrows refracted light through the backyard pool.

During both design and construction there was an emphasis placed on quality and therefore a connection to longevity. We have long held the philosophy of aiming for timeless design, or blank canvases that our clients paint the strokes of what their home looks and feels like; Forever House in this respect is the collaborative outcome between a team of like-minded design minds including Architects, Landscape Architects, Builder and the owners, whose keen eyes almost demanded their involvement at every turn equating to a rewarding outcome for all.

Located on Sydney's Northern beaches the Forever House strikes a balance between modesty and tenacity. Influenced by its topography, context, and district views, the two storey home perches itself above the street, orientated towards views of Middle Harbour to the South yet it remains constrained in form as the result of a relatively simple floor plan. A dilapidated dwelling with poor planning and environmental issues was demolished to provide a clean slate for the new dwelling.

Direct northern light is invited into the home from the northern rear yard, where a double height exterior void allows that light to enter deep into the plan at the ground floor living zone. In this respect the primary stair, designed to be as invisible as possible, flanks a double height glazed wall connecting both floor levels to northern natural light. At the first floor a skinny void separates the adult and child zones and extends the path of natural light down. The overall form has been shaped like a tube that establishes privacy to both east and west side neighbours whilst landscape and traditional screening devices visually detach the home from the high side rear neighbours. The streetscape landscape is elevated above the street providing additional privacy from ambling pedestrians.

Off form concrete and timber combine as the dominant materials of the home's palette, with the finer elements typically being detailed in black steel/metal. Where needed the home is both solid + robust or light and inviting, and this balance of positive and negative forms create a combination of purposeful spaces.

Passive solar design defines the home and it’s tube like massing invites both Sydney’s north-easterly and south-easterly breezes through the interior. Rainwater is harvested and fed directly back into the landscape as required.

Whilst there is a strong emphasis on the view to the south, light and privacy are controlled where required, especially in the more private rooms of the home, to create absolute seclusion. The home operates in a constant state of calm and whilst its footprint is unassuming, there are still enough spaces to escape to when one needs to find solitude, and each zone of the home has it’s own unique purpose. The private and public areas of the home are defined by stratified levels, noting the most private zones are at the end of the circulation journey. Bedrooms and bathrooms have been arranged on the first floor, interior + living zones at the ground floor and services and lower use spaces at basement level, including a modest rumpus that borrows refracted light through the backyard pool.

During both design and construction there was an emphasis placed on quality and therefore a connection to longevity. We have long held the philosophy of aiming for timeless design, or blank canvases that our clients paint the strokes of what their home looks and feels like; Forever House in this respect is the collaborative outcome between a team of like-minded design minds including Architects, Landscape Architects, Builder and the owners, whose keen eyes almost demanded their involvement at every turn equating to a rewarding outcome for all

Client Response:
Our home is an oasis; the ease in which the light enters, and the effortless flow of the design affords us seamless living. I now spend much of my day at home, shifting from inside to out, finding different moments of presence in an otherwise structured day. There isn’t a corner of the home that I don’t love and appreciate, each having it’s own purpose and beauty. A strong visual connection to the garden intertwines it to all areas of the interior.
Our home is an escape from the everyday, and each day we grow to love it more.