Sydney's rivers have lots of nooks and crannies including this peaceful bay which is a part of the George's river system. When we first visited the site we discovered a house that had a nice new house but a rather big problem – the house was completely disconnected from the garden and the river beyond, so in a sense this was a project of repair. The entry to the house was changed to a more central location. A water garden with stepping stones defines the new entry area. The main house now consists primarily of bedrooms while the new additions house the kitchen, dining and living areas. A dramatic curved staircase has been added to reverse the direction of travel up to the bedrooms from the old entry to the new entry area. The new living areas will be covered with a green roof that provides protection from the intense Australian sun. Outside, the terraces and the pools are an extension of the same volumes that form the different parts of the house. The pool forms a vast sheet of water that begins a dialogue with the river beyond.

Location: Sydney Australia Builder: Michael Downing Constructions Size: 488m2 Status: Under Construction Images: CEA