contemporary design. Dubbed "Corbel House," by designers Nick Bell Architects, this innovative family home maximises spatial efficiency while harmonising with its natural surroundings.
Project name
Corbel House
Architecture firm
Nick Bell Architects
Location
Seaforth, NSW, Australia
Photography
Justin Alexander
Principal architect
Nick Bell
Design team
Nick Bell, Caleb Burke
Interior design
Nick Bell Architects
Built area
75 m² with total living space of 245 m²
Structural engineer
Partridge
Material
Concrete, steel, sandstone
Typology
Residential › House
The dwelling is located within a street of period homes typified by the low, wide gabled roofs of Californian bungalows. Nearly 4000 bricks from the previous property were up-cycled and integrated into the interior and exterior design - although challenging from a builders position, its proven to be a much loved feature of the home for its owners.
Project name
City meets Coast
Architecture firm
Nick Bell Architects
Location
Bronte, Sydney, Australia
Photography
Tom Ferguson Photography
Principal architect
Nick Bell
Interior design
Nick Bell Architects
Lighting
Large skylights facing north were designed over the study at first floor which is detached from the external walls using a single steel beam, so it almost seems to float over a portion of the main living area. The study footprint was designed to stop short from the north and east walls to allow for the double height voids to illuminate the living spaces below. The skylights not only provide a sun filled study were our clients spend a large portion of their days but also the natural light captured by the skylights washes the feature face brick wall creating different lighting effects throughout the day which can be appreciated from the ground floor. The skylights wrap around an east facing window towards the rear which captures the morning sun and also frames the canopies of trees on neighbouring properties as viewed from the study. This solution provides quality natural lighting throughout the day and very private living areas as side facing windows were no longer required at ground level to achieve desired amount of natural lighting.
Material
Natural timbers have been used internally and externally within the upcycled brickwork to balance more stark materials such as glass and concrete. The external materials have been continued through the loving spaces with a double height wall in upcycled brick adding drama and texture to the rear of the house. Oak joinery and flooring, Pacific Teak cladding, grey marble and brass detailing give further richness to the space. Nearly 4000 bricks from the previous property were up-cycled and integrated into the interior and exterior design - although challenging from a builders position, its proven to be a much loved feature of the home for its owners. The form of the dwelling references this typolgy with its oversized pitched roof. Overlooking and overshadowing by the higher northern neighbour has been overcome through the use of skylights. A custom glazed roof was constructed over the living space, with a mezzanine study slotted in underneath the sloping roof form. The roof form of the dwelling has been fragmented to provide ventilation and light into the centre of the house.
Typology
Residential › House
