Porebski Architects

Park House Woollahra

Park House Woollahra

Park House Woollahra

Porebski Architects

ARCHITECTS
Porebski Architects

SIZE
3000 sqft - 5000 sqft

BUDGET
$1M - 5M

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
Sydney, Australia

CATEGORY
Residential › Private House

Park House sits harmoniously within the unique landscape of Harbourview Park and the architecture of Woollahra Heritage Conservation Area.

Its materials, colours and form blend with the bushland setting and complement the historical houses and heritage sandstone walls.

Park House Woollahra
Park House Woollahra
Park House Woollahra

The house sits at the top of Harbourview Park on a 5-metre-high sandstone wall that forms part of the heritage and natural landscape.

The house acts as a gateway to the park, without being imposing.

Park House Woollahra
Park House Woollahra

Its low, horizontal profile minimises visual impact and intrusion, and serves as a podium to the Federation house behind.

Designed to engage with its place, the concrete-block corner buttresses anchor the house to the wall, and the lighter second-level framework, with black timber, dark zinc and glass, modulates the house amongst the trees.

Park House Woollahra
Park House Woollahra

The concrete block defines the tectonics of the house. Service areas are housed in a two-storey mass along the southern boundary; ground-floor bedrooms are between the northern concrete buttresses; and first-floor living areas are in the lighter structure above.

These living areas have a treehouse-like feel. The raised clerestory roof with 3.7-metre-high ceiling creates a lofty sense of space over the living and dining area, and glazing introduces cross ventilation, northern light and framed views of the tree canopies.

Park House Woollahra
Park House Woollahra

The exterior palette continues inside with a long face-concrete brick wall providing thermal mass and a natural-coloured backdrop.

The ground-floor bedrooms are private and tranquil, looking out to the bush.

Park House Woollahra
Park House Woollahra

The master bedroom at the western end has sliding glass doors that recess into the wall to frame the view of the steep, rocky gully.

Park House is grounded in its landscape. It as a gateway to the park and a structure that belongs to the bush, while also reading as podium to the heritage house behind and complementing the conservation area it is within.

Park House Woollahra
Park House Woollahra
Park House Woollahra


Park House Woollahra
Park House Woollahra
Park House Woollahra

Porebski Architects
T +61 2 93101234 F +61 2 9310 1266
Porebski Architects
97 Rose St, Chippendale NSW 2008, Australia