RL House
This new house in the Inner West bay-side suburb of Russell Lea presents a solid and private façade to the street, while opening up to a series of generous split-level spaces facing the elevated water and city skyline view at the back.
Designed for an active family of 4, the layout is divided into 3 distinct levels. Upon entry into the foyer, a sculptural cantilevered curved steel staircase takes you up from street level to the main open plan living/dining/kitchen space. An alfresco BBQ room and roof garden, along with an expressive roof overhang, push out to the rear to focus the view onto the city skyline beyond. The roof garden connects the leafy outlook of the surrounding backyards with the living room interior. A tall external spiral staircase allows for quick access to the backyard below.
The lower level houses the children’s bedrooms and bathroom, a laundry, and the family rumpus room and home office. The backyard is taken up by a swimming pool and a small basketball court complete with professional adjustable hoop – a unique feature to cater for the father and son’s love of basketball.
The upper level is reserved for the parent’s spaces – the shifting of levels allowing for the master bedroom and ensuite shower to look over the roof of the living space to also capture the city skyline view. On the street side, the wardrobe blocks the view from houses on the opposite side, while large highlight windows allow light without compromising privacy.
The home is equipped with a rainwater tank and a solar panel array on the roof, with hydronic floor heating and large openings taking in the constant breeze from the bay minimising the need for air conditioning. The circulation is future-proofed by allowing space for a lift to be incorporated into the foyer if the need arises. The material palette externally is designed for minimal maintenance – off-form concrete, aluminium window frames, powder coated steel and fibre-cement cladding are used to ensure re-painting will not be necessary. Internally the palette is warm and neutral with oak veneer and soft greys throughout, allowing for the feature marble to stand out in the kitchen splashback and custom-made bedside tables.
The house is a result of a family planting its roots in a suburb they love and commissioning a home which will serve them and their children now and into the future.
Construction by Ferrocon
Landscape design by Melissa Wilson Landscape Architects
Styling by Liz Szczerbicki
Photography by Tom Ferguson
Article in The Local Project
