The Seacliff House by Chris Elliott Architects wins two 2013 Sydney Design Awards

The Seacliff House by Chris Elliott Architects is a residential house built for Chris Elliott's family on the famous Bondi Coogee to Coastal Walk in Sydney, Australia. Aside from maximizing both the narrow block space it is built on and the views of its coastal surroundings, the Seacliff House recently received two residential category 2013 Sydney Design Awards among others.

To add to that, Chris Elliott was named one of three Best Creators and received two more Sydney Design Awards for another recent project, the Walla Mulla and Bourke Street Parks, which won Landscape Design (Terragram and CEA) and Design Team - Small.

Have a look at some photos below.

From the CEA press release:

"CONCEPT

Everyday life occurs on a platform overlooking the sea. Beneath this the rock is carved out to form a grotto. Above the platform is a protective cocoon for sleeping. And at roof level sits a belvedere accessible via a narrow curved stair, as in a Martello tower."

"DESCRIPTION

A house for a family of four, the architects own, offers an opportunity to experiment with ideas. Its carved white exterior is a highlight of the famous Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk.

Designed with the peculiarities of the site rather than struggling against them and on a sliver of land, set against the vast Australian sea, the long north and south elevations are moulded with apertures to control light, privacy and views.

These ‘light scoops’, carefully placed cuts and slits, frame and control views, privacy and sunlight."

"The basement level is conceived as a watery grotto. The sandstone is carved away to create space. This connects in an intimate way the house to the very essence of Sydney – its sandstone base. Water occurs at various levels – a pool, a shallow reflecting pool with a bridge and an outside bath. At times strong shafts of light penetrate the spaces, as though rock fissures in a cave. At other times when light levels are low strong colours help to create warmth and atmosphere."

"The ground floor is essentially a transparent platform, which engages with the surroundings. The space is ordered by a series of columns and defined by solid walls only where necessary. Large sliding and pivoting glass doors open to the outside."

"The bedroom level, conceptually a protective cocoon, is a long linear box. It provides comfort and privacy with glimpses out through a variety of openings. The surface of the box is enlivened with series of curvilinear light scoops offering light and selective views out, such as a view of the sky when lying in the bath."

"Photovoltaic panels generate electricity whilst pigface tumbles over the roof, rain water is collected and stored in a tank, orientation maximises sea breezes and thermal mass, double layered curtains contain the heat in winter and block it in summer, and recycled woods create warmth."

"At the roof level, conceived as a belvedere, a study opens onto a small deck. Here, a private sundeck with built in timber seating and a fireplace provides a special place to soak in the panoramic outlook over the ocean or contemplate the stars at night.

The house provides many options for living and working on different levels, making the best possible use of the small site whilst injecting some fun and fantasy."

"NAME OF PROJECT: SEACLIFF HOUSE
LOCATION: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
DATE: 2012
CLIENT: CHRIS ELLIOTT
STATUS: BUILT
SIZE: 250 m2

AWARDS

Sydney Design Awards, shortlist 2013
WIN Long list, 2013
NSW AIA Commendation 2012
Waverley Design Award 2012
World Architecture Festival Awards, Shortlisted (Villa category) 2012
Australian Interior Design Awards, Colour in Residential Design, shortlist, 2012

PROJECT TEAM

Architect: Chris Elliott Architects
Builder: Hodge Wright Constructions Pty Ltd
Structural Engineer: O’Hearn Consulting Pty Ltd
Hydraulic Engineer: Buckton Lysenko Pty Ltd
Landscape Architects: Terragram Pty Ltd"

Images courtesy of Chris Elliott Architects.