Ravine House

Ravine House
© Rolf Ockert

Ravine House

ROAr

ARCHITECTS
ROAr

LEAD ARCHITECT
Rolf Ockert

MANUFACTURERS
Vitrocsa, Brianda Projects, Capral, Daikin, Gencork, Gilding, Havwoods, Tecled

BUILDER
Brianda Projects

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
Partridge Partners

PHOTOGRAPHS
Rolf Ockert, Mark Syke

AREA
645 m²

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
South Coogee, Australia

CATEGORY
Houses

This site is certainly one of the most unusual we have ever come across. There is no backyard. instead of a rocky ravine that brings the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean right into its core.

Ravine House
© Rolf Ockert
Ravine House
© Rolf Ockert

The house is an extension of its location and could not reasonably sit anywhere else. It grows out of the rock organically and responds to the gorge that defines its base.

The resulting X-shaped plan of the house suits its internal organization perfectly, with four bedrooms upstairs and Living, Dining, Loggia, and a Garage on the main level, both above the grounds.

Ravine House
© Rolf Ockert
Ravine House
© Rolf Ockert

The natural fall in the rock allows two more levels below, getting more private and intimate with its rocky location, as one goes down.

The presence of the ocean is immediate, from everywhere in the house.

Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke

The angular plan and split-level section, in combination with, sometimes unexpected, voids and openings, allow a myriad of different viewpoints and experiences of the ocean, the rocks, and the sky, enlivened by the various paths of natural light into the house over the course of the day and the year.

The natural ravine does not stop at the existing sea wall but continues right under the house to the street.

While this created the opportunity to retain the natural flow of stormwater it also, together with the extreme wind forces that needed to be allowed for in this location, presented unusual engineering challenges.

Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Rolf Ockert
Ravine House
© Rolf Ockert

Still, the house presents light and airy. While appearing modest and close to the street the house opens up dramatically to the east.

The split-level section follows the natural flow of the land, minimizing the need for excavation.

Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke

The experience of the very high living and dining level is enhanced by entering it through the low-height, almost compressed, entry area.

The more personal rumpus living space, together with the areas allowing the clients to follow their various private pursuits, such as Playroom, Gym, and climate-controlled Wine Cellar are one level below, accessible via very light, visually open, stairs.

Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke

This level also offers a more sheltered outdoor sitting area, a necessity in this location, and the pool that extends east to almost over the ocean itself.

On the level below that is the private study and the Ravine Room, accompanying the rocky gorge, with the latter lit by window slots in the bottom of the pool. From the entry area stairs, tucked away to the side, leads up to the bedroom area, highest up over the ocean.

Ravine House
© Mark Syke


Ravine House
© Rolf Ockert
Ravine House
© Rolf Ockert
Ravine House
© Rolf Ockert
Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke
Ravine House
© Mark Syke


Ravine House
Long Section
Ravine House
Cross Section


Ravine House
Plan - Site
Ravine House
Plan - Entry Level
Ravine House
Plan - Upper Level Plan
Ravine House
Plan - Pool Level
Ravine House
Plan - Below Pool Level