Leura mountain home

Here's another job that also kept us busy last year. Our "island" job in Leura.

After a year an a half negotiating with planning officers for a design solution the good bergers decided to ignore their internal advice and refused our DA for political reasons. More votes in that direction... lot's of misinformed hysteria around this in the local populace.

Here's our response that's being taken to the Land & Environment Court. Echos of "mountain" style in a plan form that's reminiscent of grand old guest homes.

LEC is always a lottery even with a good design but it at least brings the assessment back to considered merit rather than vexatious grandstanding. Clients need patience and deep pockets, sadly with no guarantees.

It's been one of the biggest design challenges we've faced and even though it's been a pain in many ways it's also been exciting to work on.

north eastern view. folded roof forms and western red cedar lining, stone base

north western view. feature entry area

western view. deep verandahs to mitigate summer sun

southern view. heavily landscaped screen

elevations. as disciplined as we could make them

plan shows dominance of landscaping in the design

Follow @thearchco

Eden final

After many adjustments and enough reports to sink a ship we finally got this beast into council for DA. A bit more finesse on the facades and shapes. Compliant with all LEP controls and most of the DCP ones. Fingers crossed they don't give us too hard a time during the assessment.

corner of eden and burrows streets

rear view from butterworth lane

view from eden street

view from burrows street

roof deck as common open area

solar panels work as shade for decks

view of roof deck

aerial view from the rear

ground floor

typical lower levels

NE elevation

cross section

Follow @thearchco

Ralph update "The Bowery"

After more than a year in documentation and some site contamination issues to overcome this project in Alexandria is finally starting to get under way.

A bit of a change to the original shape driven by conservative urban planners in City of Sydney. But generally its not too bad.

Follow @thearchco

Eden prelim

Our first go at this 74 unit RFB/mixed development in Arncliffe. We are planning to use screens that actually work rather then being fixed add ons for looks only. Deep cuts into the facades for natural light and ventilation to normally internal wet areas. Solar panels and water re-usage. All white at the moment but funky colour scheme still to come.

Follow @thearchco

Balmain gem

Fighting through dense Leichhardt Council controls this refurbishment of a tiny heritage semi emerged triumphant. Determined and talented clients injected loads of charm and detail to create a lovely, partly whimsical, home.

front view before

rear view before

renovated front view

renovated rear view

indoor/outdoor family space

new entry

attic kitchen

second bed

bright white bathroom details

bridge and city glimpses from new attic kitchen/living room

Follow @thearchco

Pic for Geoff

A new commission sketch for Geoff.

I think he liked it.....

Follow @thearchco

baxter road design concept

What do you do with a skinny, unfriendly block of dirt on a gateway site in one of the busiest locations in Mascot? Here is a design concept that was part of a tender for development. The tender was unsuccessful but we still like what we did so thought I'd post it in our "might-a-beens" just for fun.

We collaborated with our great friends, Sam Rigoli (Studio R) and Mark Szczerbicki (Mark Szczerbicki Design Studio) and created a dynamic architectural form that was a mix of hotel, advertising panels, commercial and retail. Expressed egg crate hotel rooms, office spaces, a rooftop bar and viewing area, a car display with suspended ferraris and a waterfall with image displays, lit up at night. The flying form also referenced the nearby airport.

Looked good in our minds.....

concept 3D

baxter road 

satellite view

concept panel

daytime view

night time view

Follow @thearchco