City and sea

On the shores of Sydney Harbour, New Zealand–born Australian architect Richard Archer devised a home of connections with the water and city beyond — the ever-moving seascape by day, and at night the vast black expanse of water framed by city lights — and retreat from the same. 

Located in Point Piper in the city’s eastern suburbs, the site faces north-west towards the central business district. A full renovation of an existing four-storey 1980s house was undertaken as well as a complete landscape redesign, in which mature trees were delivered to the site by barge to create an instant tropical green belt around the property. 

Here, local sandstone meets timber and limestone-look ceramic tiles, accentuated with extensive greenery. A lap pool is located at the edge of the property, the poolscape dropping away to the sea. 

“This project was about joy, about the dynamism of the site,” Richard explains. “We set out to create a place of privacy, of peace and tranquility, yet one intimately connected with the city beyond; an elegant sanctuary.”

Words: Clare Chapman
Images: Courtesy of Archer Design

Related articles

The great outdoors

Heading into winter and missing those beautiful long summer evenings outdoors, it’s time to think about what alfresco dining will look like in 2024.

Folded lines

Architectural designer Ben Brady creates a modern take on rural living for a couple who had lived on the same land for 40 years. Situated in Spotswood, a region known for its pastoral history, the home is designed to make better use of the site’s beautiful rural setting.

Local lens

The New Zealand Institute of Architects Local Architecture Awards have started to be announced for 2023. Here’s a look at the some of the winning houses in Wellington and Canterbury.

Minimalism on the coast

On the shores of Wellington Harbour, this home for a young family was designed to embrace its coastal surroundings while feeling lofty and contemporary.