Luigi Rosselli Architects

Bridge Building

Bridge Building
© Edward Birch

BRIDGE BUILDING

Luigi Rosselli Architects

ARCHITECTS
Luigi Rosselli Architects

AREA
316 m²

LOCATION
Hunters hill, australia

CATEGORY
Houses, extension

YEAR
2016

PHOTOGRAPHS
Edward Birch

MANUFACTURERS
DuPont, Enzie, Beadcrete, Technoquartz

STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT
Rooney & Bye Pty Ltd

JOINERY
Sydney Joinery Pty Ltd

CITY
Hunters Hill

COUNTRY
Australia

Text description provided by architect.

Water is a precious element in residential architecture, almost an essential element of happiness.

Bridge Building
© Edward Birch
Bridge Building
© Edward Birch
Bridge Building
© Edward Birch

In Islamic architecture, water is used as a balm to restless minds and is often found in psychiatric hospitals. This justifies our manic search of waterfronts, beachfront, harbourfronts, lakefronts, and riverfronts to settle in.

Water is also a divisive element; it creates a barrier or forms a border, such as the moats that surrounded medieval castles, or the swimming pools of today.

Bridge Building
© Edward Birch
Bridge Building
© Edward Birch

Australian swimming pools, in particular, create barriers that not just inexperienced swimmers but ones that all residents must face owing to a strict pool fencing code.

This home in Hunters Hill is accessible only by bridging the swimming pool that surrounds the house on two sides.

The structure of the bridge is a pair of slender stainless steel beams covered by a timber slatted walkway; the same slatted timber forms the pool fence on the side; at a required height of 1200mm.

Bridge Building
© Edward Birch
Bridge Building
© Edward Birch
Bridge Building
© Edward Birch

The home itself is an ‘L’ shaped two-story residence, with dual aspect, facing the pool on the northern side and a garden to the rear on the other side. A tall sandstone corner contains the external barbeque and the internal fireplace.

The general planning and proportions of the house lead to a calm and contemplative design where water is present in every aspect and conveys a sense of tranquillity and balance.

Bridge Building
© Edward Birch


Bridge Building
Ground Floor Plan
Bridge Building
First Floor Plan

Luigi Rosselli Architects
T +61 2 92811498
Luigi Rosselli Architects
122 Buckingham St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia