Inside a Dream Home With Iconic Views of Sydney Harbour (House Tour)

Summary

Architects Tim Hay and Jeff Fearon discuss the design philosophy of Rose Bay House, emphasizing the balance between performance and calmness, architectural and landscaping integration, and privacy. The house, situated on a steep, elevated site, features floating shells over gardens, offering privacy and views. It is designed to be a flexible family home, accommodating different stages of life and entertaining needs, with a focus on material detail for space definition and a harmonious balance of robustness and lightness.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The Rose Bay House was designed to embody both performance and calmness, with a focus on creating a sanctuary of privacy.
• 🌿 The integration of architectural and landscaping elements was crucial to achieve a seamless connection between the built form and the natural environment.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The house was intended to be a family home, adaptable to accommodate different life stages and sizes of gatherings.
• 🏙️ The site's elevated position allowed for the house to be discreet, blending with the heavily vegetated grounds and maintaining privacy.
• 🛕 The architectural design features floating shells that sit over gardens, creating a unique arrival experience that transitions from the gardens to the terrace with a view.
• 🎉 The house was configured to host a variety of social events, emphasizing the client's passion for entertaining and gathering.
• 👪 The design considered the balance between creating intimate spaces for a few and accommodating larger groups, reflecting the family's dynamic lifestyle.
• 🏞️ Material detailing and the thoughtful division of spaces were employed to create defined areas without relying on traditional doorways or barriers.
• 🌅 The planning took into account the daily life and occupation of the house, ensuring optimal light penetration and a balance of views to both the harbor and the garden.
• 💎 The house's design aimed to reconcile the solidity of its construction with a sense of lightness and delicacy, using stone as a key material to achieve this.
• 🌳 The garden's maturity over time has enhanced the initial design vision, achieving a sense of balance and integration with the built environment.

Q & A

What was the primary goal for the architects when designing the Rose Bay House?

The primary goal for the architects was to create a building that performed well while also providing a sense of calmness, sanctuary, and privacy through a combination of architectural and landscaping design.

Who are Tim Hay and Jeff Fearon, and what is their role in the project?

Tim Hay and Jeff Fearon are the architects responsible for the design of the Rose Bay House. They were involved in the conceptualization and execution of the architectural strategy for the project.

What is the geographical significance of the Rose Bay House's location?

The Rose Bay House is located at one end of Rose Bay, with views across a body of water towards the city. Its elevated position on a steep, sloped site allows for a sense of discretion and privacy.

How did the architects address the challenge of the site's steep terrain and crowded neighbors?

The architects designed the house to have floating shells that sit over the gardens, creating a sense of arrival through these elements rather than a heavy masonry structure that rises from the contour.

What was the main consideration for the house to be a family home?

The house needed to be flexible to accommodate different ages and stages as the family grows and changes, as well as to host gatherings and entertain diverse groups of visitors.

How did the architects ensure the house could cater to both large gatherings and intimate moments?

The architects planned the house to have a sense of scale that was also intimate, with spaces defined through material detail and containment of glazed elements, allowing for both large group occupation and intimate settings.

What was the design approach to balancing the views of the harbor and the garden?

The architects aimed for a visual stereo or surround sound effect by ensuring that the plan addressed both the outlook opportunities for the sun and the balance of views to the harbor and the garden.

What material did the architects choose to achieve the desired sense of robustness and lightness?

The architects chose stone for its permanence and the ability to provide lightness. They tested samples on-site to ensure the material met their design ambitions of robustness with a delicate appearance.

How does the design of the Rose Bay House respond to the changing needs of its occupants as they grow from children to young adults?

The design allows for the accommodation of the children's transition to young adults by providing spaces that can adapt to their changing needs while maintaining a sense of connection to the home.

What is the significance of having spaces with exterior light or openness on at least two sides in residential design?

Spaces with exterior light or openness on at least two sides enhance the feeling of connection to the external environment, making the occupants feel more directly connected to nature and the outdoors.

How has the garden matured over time and what impact does it have on the overall design?

The garden has matured significantly, establishing a sense of balance that was initially envisioned in the design. This balance enhances the overall experience of living in the Rose Bay House.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 Design Philosophy of Rose Bay House

The Rose Bay House is designed to embody a sense of calmness and sanctuary through a harmonious blend of architecture and landscaping. Architects Tim Hay and Jeff Fearon emphasize the importance of the building's discreet presence on a steep, elevated site, which is heavily vegetated for privacy. The house is envisioned as floating shells over gardens, offering a terrace with views of the city. It is intended to be a flexible family home, capable of accommodating different stages of family life and entertaining various groups. The design focuses on creating intimate spaces that are also part of a larger, well-defined plan, using material details to divide spaces without relying on doorways.

05:10

🌟 Balancing Solidity and Lightness in Design

The design of the Rose Bay House also addresses the dual nature of being both solid and light. The architects sought a material that could provide the robustness and permanence of stone while also conveying a sense of delicacy and movement. This was achieved by using stone samples that interacted beautifully with the dappled light on site. The building is embedded into the ground with a basement level and rises through three distinct levels, each with its own personality. The design ensures that every space within the home feels connected to the external environment, with an emphasis on natural light and openness. The architects appreciate the evolution of the house and garden over time, noting the maturation of the garden and its contribution to the overall sense of balance and connection with nature.

Keywords

💡Architectural Strategy

Architectural strategy refers to the comprehensive plan and approach taken by architects to design a building that meets specific functional, aesthetic, and structural requirements. In the video, it is mentioned as a key element in creating a sense of sanctuary and privacy, combining both architectural design and landscaping. The architects, Tim Hay and Jeff Fearon, emphasize the importance of how the garden, courtyard, and grounds integrate with the building's design to achieve a harmonious and functional living space.

💡Sanctuary

Sanctuary is a term that denotes a place of refuge or safety where one can experience peace and seclusion. In the context of the video, the architects aimed to create a house that not only performs well but also offers a sense of calmness and sanctuary. This is achieved through the combination of architectural elements and landscaping, ensuring privacy and a serene environment, as highlighted by the phrase 'a sense of sanctuary and privacy'.

💡Landscaping

Landscaping involves the design, planning, and maintenance of outdoor spaces to enhance their aesthetic appeal and functionality. In the video, landscaping plays a crucial role in creating a sense of privacy and calmness, working in tandem with the architectural strategy. The architects wanted to maintain and enhance the heavily vegetated grounds of the existing house, which contributes to the sense of entering a sanctuary as one moves from the street into the garden.

💡Floating Shells

The term 'floating shells' in the video refers to the architectural concept of creating structures that appear to hover or be suspended over the landscape, giving a sense of lightness and openness. This design approach was chosen to contrast with the traditional heavy masonry structures, allowing the house to feel more integrated with its surroundings and the gardens, as mentioned in the script where the architects discuss the design not to have a 'heavy masonry structure that rises up from the contour'.

💡Flexibility

Flexibility in architecture means designing spaces that can adapt to changing needs over time. The video discusses the need for the house to be a family home capable of accommodating different ages and stages as the family grows and changes. This requires the design to allow for various configurations to suit both intimate gatherings and larger events, reflecting the client's passion for entertaining and the need for the home to evolve with the family's needs.

💡Intimacy

Intimacy in the context of the video refers to the sense of closeness and warmth that a space can provide, even when it is occupied by a small number of people. The architects aimed to create a home that felt intimate when only the family was present, despite its capacity to host larger groups. This is achieved through careful planning and material choices that allow for a balance between openness and privacy, as discussed in the script where they mention the challenge of maintaining a sense of intimacy 'when there were just the two people in the house'.

💡Material Detail

Material detail pertains to the careful selection and application of materials in construction to create a specific atmosphere and define spaces. In the video, the architects emphasize the importance of material detail in dividing spaces without relying solely on doorways. They sought to use materials to create purposeful divisions, contributing to the overall architectural strategy and enhancing the sense of place within the home.

💡Light Penetration

Light penetration refers to the way natural light enters and moves through a space, affecting its ambiance and functionality. The architects in the video were keen on ensuring that light penetrated the home throughout the day, providing not only visibility but also a connection to the natural environment. This is evident in their consideration of 'a day in the life' and the importance of morning sunlight in the kitchen, which was 'absolutely critical' to their planning.

💡Solid and Light

The concept of being 'solid and light' in the video represents the architects' desire to create a building that is both robust and delicate. They wanted the house to feel embedded and secure, yet also to have a sense of elegance and airiness. This is achieved through the use of materials like stone, which provides permanence and robustness, but also allows for a sense of lightness and movement, as described in the script where they discuss the evolution of the design and their love for the conflict between solidity and lightness.

💡Connection to Exterior

Connection to the exterior in the video refers to the design approach that ensures each space within the home has a direct link to the outside environment. This is important for creating a sense of openness and integration with nature. The architects mention the importance of having spaces with light or openness on at least two sides, allowing occupants to feel connected to the external environment, which is a defining characteristic of their residential designs.

Highlights

The architects aimed to create a building that performed well but also exuded a sense of calmness and sanctuary.

Architectural and landscaping elements were combined to create privacy and a sense of retreat.

Tim Hay and Jeff Fearon are the architects behind the Rose Bay House project.

The house is located at one end of Rose Bay with views across the water back towards the city.

The steep, sloping site is close to the harbor and surrounded by neighbors.

The existing house was discreet due to heavily vegetated grounds, a feature the architects wanted to maintain or enhance.

The new architecture was designed to have floating shells over the gardens rather than a heavy masonry structure.

The house needed to be a flexible family home that could accommodate different ages and stages.

Entertaining and gathering were important aspects of the client's life, influencing the home's configuration.

The house had to maintain a sense of intimacy even when occupied by a large group.

Spaces were defined through material detail and contained elements to avoid an overly open plan.

The planning addressed both outlook opportunities for sun and the balance of views to the harbor and garden.

The house has a unique conflict of being both solid and light, a concept the architects embraced in its design.

Stone was chosen for its permanence and ability to provide lightness and delicacy.

The basement level embeds the building in the ground, creating a sense of solidity.

As the building rises, it transitions from solidity to a more open and view-oriented design.

The top level balances solidity with a lighter material, providing protection and capturing morning and afternoon sun.

The architects value designing residential spaces that connect occupants to the exterior environment.

The garden has matured over time, achieving the balance envisioned in the initial design.

Transcripts

We wanted the building to perform, but we also  wanted a house that actually just had a sense of

calmness. There is a sense of sanctuary  and privacy that's a combination of both

architectural and landscaping sort of  combining together and that is really

important. I think we as architects we'll talk  to the structure and the built form but

the way that the garden, the courtyard and the grounds stitch

with the architectural strategy was very important to us.

Hi I'm Tim Hay, I'm Jeff Fearon this is the Rose Bay House.

We're at one end of Rose Bay so  we look across a body of water back

towards the city. It's steep terrain away  from the level of the harbour and it is a

site that slopes up closely sort of crowded  by neighbours as the hill rises up from the harbour.

The advantage of coming from a elevated  position is that the house itself can be quite

discreet and certainly the existing house  that was here you really didn't read it from  

the street, given the grounds were very heavily  vegetated and I think that's something

we really wanted to keep or enhance in fact. So  that sense of coming off the street and gently

dropping into the garden was working up  something that we had experienced when we

first came to the site and figuring out how we  change that. The biggest difference probably is

the architecture was designed not to have this  kind of heavy masonry structure that rises up from

the contour but more to be these kind of floating  shells that sit over the gardens and that you slip

under those or through those to arrive at the  terrace that is the delivery towards the view.

It was always going to be a family home that meant

a number of things across the  years that were in front of us.

So it needed to be a home that could flexibly  accommodate different ages and stages as the

family grows and rejoins and then goes off on  different ventures. I think entertaining has

always been or gathering has been a big part of the client's life and is something that they're

very passionate about so it was always  configured in such a way that it could

host different groups of people within the  family but also much more diverse groups

of people who might come and visit  and enjoy the finished property as well.

The other challenge with that brief was that  we wanted the house to have a sense of scale that

was also intimate when there were just the two  people in the house and obviously the children

are accommodated but that they're at an age where  they're sort of transitioning from being children

to sort of young adults and moving away from the  building, so as we were configuring the house it

needed to sort of be able to have the occupation  of a large group but still that sense of intimacy

if you know there was just a couple of people  having breakfast together so the process of

understanding the extent of those variations  of occupation were quite critical in the planning.

We wanted to have spaces that were defined, we didn't want to have a plan that was

completely open in all directions. So there was a  division of the spaces that needed to occur, there

was a sense that we didn't want to contain them  with doorways and as cells but we didn't also want

a plan that was open and undefined as completely  sort of free space. So as we developed the planning

we wanted that definition to be through  material detail, through containment of glazed and  

contained elements so the division was purposeful. We were looking at which spaces needed to address

which opportunity, obviously the harbour was a very  strong aspect and and there's an extent of outlook  

and breadth that addresses that but in balance  we also wanted the opportunity of light and light

penetration through the day to be available  to the plan and I think the process where

we considered a day in the life what was the  occupation through the day and a morning sunbeam

in the kitchen was something that was absolutely  critical to us so the planning both addressed

outlook opportunities for sun and opportunities to  balance the view to the harbour with the garden as

we've mentioned before was a jewel, an experience  that wanted to be available a number of spaces so

rather than having a a sense of outlook that was  singular there was a sense of visual stereo or

surround sound from a visual point of view that we  were trying to sort of incorporate into the spaces.

The house at its essence has this conflict  between being both solid and light and that

was something that we loved about the evolution  of the design. We wanted a house the client was

very clear that had to be robust, had to  be solidly built it was embedded into the  

ground and one of the things that we thought  about early on in the design process was if we

could have a sense of the skin having the  robustness that we need but had this delicacy

to it that would be beautiful and we started  to look at samples and stone was one that we

wondered how could we have something that had the  permanence of stone but provide the lightness and

then early on in the design process we came  to site with a number of samples and we held

them up and we looked at them on the site and  there was this moment when the light that was

dappled through the trees came through when one  of the samples of stone that we had in our hand

and it was a moment where we said well this  starts to fulfil those ambitions. It provides

the layering, it has a sense of delicacy and  also a sense of movement so that process of

setting those ambitions from a design point of  view, testing the materials and then physically  

coming here and starting to hold things  in the air it was fascinating. It meant

that you know we discovered with the client  an opportunity through that process.

The robustness is the fact that the building  is embedded in the ground, we have a basement level

that we had to cut sandstone geology away to sort  of embed the building so as it rises from that

base there are three levels and it has different  personalities as it rises up, as it rises from

the basement it's definitely contained, there is no  outlook. As it traverses the mid level which we're

on that solidity dissolves and there is obviously  a sense of outlook and view and aspect that we're

trying to capture and as it transitions to  the third level the sort of sleeping level

of the building, it is a balance of those two  things actually. It becomes solid again but it  

becomes solid with a very different material.  It has a a skin and shell of stone that provides .

protection as we climb we are also  more visible to the neighbours in the

surrounding neighborhood but we also  wanted to be living in a home that had.

a sense of lightness and able to capture  the opportunity of morning and afternoon sun.

One of the things that we kind of  think is defining about designing spaces as

residential spaces or for or to live in is that  it's a beautiful opportunity to have spaces

that have exterior light or openness on both  sides or at least two sides. If you are in a

space that is kind of two or three layers deep  into the occupancy of the home it's a long way

from being able to feel that you're connected to  the exterior and I think that almost defines what

it feels like to be in one of our homes is that  you can connect to the external environment from

each of the spaces quite directly. We love  returning to a building that we've designed after

a period of time because things change. I think  the garden has matured incredibly and it's

taken on the sense of balance we imagined  initially when we designed the building  

but knew had to have a period of time to establish  and that balance is one of the things that we love.