Wentworth Rd House

Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander

WENTWORTH RD HOUSE

Edward Szewczyk Architects

LOCATION
Sydney, Australia

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
D’Ambrosio Consulting.

PROJECT YEAR
2012

PHOTOGRAPHS
Justin Alexander

Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander
Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander


ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET

This building takes full advantage of being on the sunny side of the street.

Wentworth Rd House
Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander

Where sun access and vistas to Sydney Harbour are the same you have to embrace it. Three levels of the building topped with a roof terrace create dramatic composition above the street that is controlled by interplay of horizontal elements.

Unusually for houses in the surrounding suburb, part of the outdoor functions are in the street frontage and above the street, rather than being hidden behind high fences. The Ground Floor is partially suspended.

Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander
Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander

Connecting garden stairs and terraces are sandstone slabs lightly supported to emphasise position elevated above the ground levels.

The composition of the rear garden is controlled by the dominant presence of an old gum tree providing protected habitat for birds and with its form displaying beautiful shapes and colours of the trunk.

Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander
Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander

The main Family Area at the ground floor level is positioned to benefit from both: distant northern views towards the harbor and intimate views to the gumtree.

With the change of lighting, the distant views dominate during the daytime and intimacy of the gumtree takes over in the evenings.

Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander
Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander

 External sandstone slabs change internally to much finer sandstone for the floor and coarse sandstone of wall cladding relates to the entry point.

Timber used internally counterbalances stone finishes, slick metal cladding to Master Bedroom and solid steel plates to roof terrace.

Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander
Wentworth Rd House
© Justin Alexander

The building displays large transparency, while maintaining sufficient mass to provide feeling of sound shelter. Simplicity of spaces is enriched by fine detailing of timber and steel elements.


Wentworth Rd House
Elevation
Wentworth Rd House
Section
Wentworth Rd House
Elevation
Wentworth Rd House
Cross Setion


Wentworth Rd House
Plan
Wentworth Rd House
Plan
Wentworth Rd House
Plan
Wentworth Rd House
Plan