Luigi Rosselli Architects

Martello Tower Home

Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander

MARTELLO TOWER HOME

Luigi Rosselli

ARCHITECTS
Luigi Rosselli

LANDSCAPER
Secret Gardens

BUILDER
Sydcon Building Services

MANUFACTURERS
Pulpo, Jwi Louvres, Onsite Supply & Design

STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT
Rooney & Bye Pty Ltd

HYDRAULIC CONSULTANT
Rooney & Bye Pty Ltd

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Awill Interiors, Romaine Alwill

STRUCTURAL & HYDRAULIC CONSULTANT
Rooney & Bye Pty Ltd

JOINER
Kitchen Trend

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Simon Hassall

AREA
303 M²

LOCATION
Clontarf, Australia

YEAR
2014

CATEGORY
Houses, Restoration, Renovation

Text description provided by architect.

A SANDSTONE COASTAL LOOKOUT

Situated on the highest point of a ridge overlooking Sydney’s Middle Harbour is a solid, 3 storey brick house built during the between the late 1950s and early 1960s, which has been complemented by contemporary additions bearing all the signature hallmarks of Luigi Rosselli Architecture.

Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander
Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander

The sandstone base, the whitewashed walls, and the aerofoil vertical louvres placed next to “log-cabin” exterior wall cladding.

The front of the house features another Luigi Rosselli Architects key element – a lightwell containing an elliptical stair – framed by the sandstone Martello Tower*

Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander
Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander

Entry porch that, in its “partially ruined” state, opens up to the horizontal whitewashed concrete beams and roof lines that complete the new street elevation.

Gentle alterations to the existing house have left ninety-five percent of the original structure standing including the 1950s sandstone fireplace in the lounge, while the additions to the front of the house and the new lower ground floor level at the back have enlivened its somewhat bland appearance.

Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander
Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander

Internally, the interiors created by Romaine Alwill incorporated the client’s favourite Mediterranean Blue colour into a timeless palette to create a comfortable and luminous family home that is ready to survive another 50 years.

*Sometimes known simply as Martellos, Martello Towers are small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the French Revolutionary Wars onwards. Most were coastal forts.

Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander
Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander
Martello Tower Home
© Edward Birch
Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander


Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander
Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander
Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander
Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander
Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander
Martello Tower Home
© Justin Alexander


Martello Tower Home
Plan 1
Martello Tower Home
Plan 2
Martello Tower Home
Plan 3

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