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John Storch, a landscape architect and principal of A Total Concept, was commissioned to design the swimming pool, cabana, outdoor entertaining room and gardens for this Lower North Shore Sydney property, which is home to a young family of four.

“The cabana was set adjacent to the pool to the rear of the property to visually maximise the lawn and garden, and to allow views from the cabana backward towards the home and outdoor entertaining room,” says John. “This, in turn, allowed us to take advantage of the level changes across the property to develop an elevated lawn area adjacent to the residence to create transitional zones between the home and rear spaces, adding interest to the design.

“The existing veranda area was too small for comfortable entertaining so our client decided to ‘bite the bullet’ and have the area rebuilt and extended. We also added generous steps around the space to visually integrate the area leading out to the surrounding lawns and paved area designed for a basketball hoop.”

The poolside cabana services the swimmers of the family and allows parents to closely supervise their children. It is designed so that as the children get older it can double as a rumpus and sleepover room that is far enough away from the home so loud music and electronic games can’t be heard but is still close enough for parents to keep a watchful eye on teenagers.

The cabana is flanked by feature mirrored wing walls. On one side, the wall hides a utility area; on the other, the pool filter and storage area. Wisteria sinensis is draped around the feature mirrors that reflect the vibrant blue of the pool and the rich greens of the gardens to integrate and seat the height of the cabana into the garden.

The traditional style and colours of the poolside cabana tie back to the design of the home. The cabana’s skillion roof has skylights and a very high ceiling, great for light, airflow and to make the cabana seem more spacious.

“The outdoor entertaining room adjacent to the residence complements the new work and a large kitchen has been incorporated to one side allowing for extended family entertaining,” says John. “The built-in cabinetry, incorporating a Caesarstone benchtop, under-mounted sink, stainless steel fridge, dishwasher and barbecue, is complemented with large skylights and adjustable louvred windows that allow light in and create privacy to the adjoining property.”

The understated glass tile used in the pool contrasts beautifully with the blond limestone paving of the paved areas and the timber floor of the outdoor entertaining room matches the home’s timber flooring.

The lush surrounding gardens include formal hedges of Syzygium ‘Cascade’, Buxus sempervirens and Agapanthus orientalis ‘Blue’ together with Cerastium tomentosum, Gardenia ‘Florida’ and Clivea miniata. Then there are specimen plantings of Magnolia ‘Little Gem’ and potted Fortunella hindsi along with the formal tree planting of Magnolia ‘Exmouth’ — this provides a heady mix of perfumed flowers at various times of the year.

The end result is a pair of beautifully integrated outdoor rooms that add enormously to the quality of life enjoyed by the happy homeowners and their children. The visual simplicity of the design and subtle use of quality materials unifies the project and sets the components well into the surrounding landscaped gardens to create what John calls “two rooms for one”.

For more information, 

A Total Concept 

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Before work can begin on a knockdown-rebuild project, the old house needs to be removed and the site prepared. It’s a process that can unearth unexpected problems and raise safety issues, so it needs to be left in the hands of a professional demolition company.

“You want a trusted company with many years of experience and you want a transparent process from beginning to end,” says Zac Gabrael of Gabrael House Demolition Sydney. “You need a company that has experience dealing with paperwork and local councils, and has the required licences — a Class 2 Demolition Licence and an ‘Unrestricted’ Asbestos Removal Licence — which we have.

“Also look for a company that prioritizes keeping a site as clean and tidy as possible and has a focus on recycling. Of course, safe work practices are paramount. We put the same level of care and attention to detail into ensuring safety as you would expect your builder to put into building your new home.

“All our team members have undergone specialist training and work to the highest level of safety standards. We practice only the safest methods of demolition, rigorously following state and industry health and safety regulations as well as our own OHS procedures. All jobs are tackled with our simple philosophy of safety first, and although house demolition is by nature a risky business, we pride ourselves on our excellent safety record.”

Established in 1995, Gabrael House Demolition Sydney is one of the fastest growing demolition companies in Sydney and is dedicated to achieving one very important objective: providing customers with the best possible service at a competitive price. “We specialise in house demolition, but our projects can range from something as minor as removing a shed, garage or carport to a major undertaking such as removing the entire house,” says Zac. “We offer a comprehensive range of demolition services and are equipped to completely clear a site and prime the plot of land for new development. We also specialise in asbestos removal, site remediation and site preparation.

“Most clients ask for a complete demolition service. This means the site is levelled, compacted and ready to hand over to the builder. This includes clearance and completion certificates as well as asbestos receipts. During a typical demolition, we might remove, in addition to the old house, concrete slabs, fencing, brick work and footpaths.”

As with any construction-related work, the unexpected can occur which will add to the cost and time taken — and if the old house has asbestos, that will add to the cost, too. “Asbestos can be a problem and is found in many homes, so asbestos removal and remediation work is something we do a lot of,” says Zac. “Gabrael Demolition takes all safety and legally required precautions to ensure all asbestos is removed and deposited properly.”

So what about the timing? “It differs when people choose to have their demolition complete. Some do it as little as a week before construction of a new home begins, others have the old house demolished quite a while before construction is due to start on the new home,” says Zac. “The timing is up to the client and can be based on a number of factors but as an experienced demolition company, we are able to work with both clients and builders to suit the timeline of when works are scheduled to begin.”

It makes sense to get two or three quotes, advises Zac, but it definitely isn’t a matter of automatically opting for the lowest. “It can be confusing for clients but it’s essential they go for the quote from the company that puts safety, procedure and client satisfaction first,” he says. “When formulating a quote, we look at how large the site is, how many trees and shrubs there are, whether there is a garage, deck or shed, and if there is fencing that has to come down too. We also have to factor in the disconnection of services, site accessibility, whether any of the materials are recyclable and whether the site has asbestos.

“Clients must also look at the quality of work provided by the demolisher, ensure that all certificates are provided and all regulations are being adhered to, especially when it revolves around the disposal of asbestos. And they should make sure the quote they choose includes all the demolition work they expect to be carried out.

“Since we set up business in 1995 we have amassed a great deal of experience in all aspects of site preparation, from the preparation of building sites to the clearing of new subdivisions and industrial bulk earthworks. We’re one of the most reputable site preparation companies in Sydney and this is because we have a team of experts who carefully manage each job from start to finish, ensuring the entire project runs smoothly and in a timely fashion. We understand better than anyone how stressful a site preparation project can be, so why not leave all the hard work to us?”

For more information 

Gabrael House Demolition Sydney

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Before we pick apart the details of Masuto Residence, let’s play a quick game of word association. What is the first word that pops into your head when we say “duplex”? Adjectives such “dank”, “drab” and “dreary” might slide off the tongue. You’re likely conjuring up images of a confined and dark space with paper-thin walls and annoyingly noisy neighbours who steal your Sunday paper and let their dog defecate on your side of the front lawn. Well, throw those stereotypes out the double-glazed window because this project by Jamison Architects took the dowdy duplex and turned it on its head, or should that be roof? Either way, the resulting elongated duplex project in the Melbourne suburb of Aberfeldie pushes the boundaries and rethinks what duplex living means. It not only enhances the clients’ lifestyle, but also gives dual residence a new, bright and breezy lease on life.

Mark and Simone were in the market for a light-filled dual-occupancy development with a strong indoor/outdoor connection so they could live in one side and sell the other. They desired a home that was architecturally unique but functional enough to meet the current needs of their family and offer close proximity to the city and schools in the area. “Mark and Simone love to cook, entertain and get together to share meals as a family so the kitchen in particular was important,” says Mark Jamison of Jamison Architects. “The island bench is the heart of the kitchen and a main feature of the space where the family can sit around and enjoy relaxed meals or use for a buffet-style set-up when entertaining guests.”

In accordance with the brief, the duplex is spoilt with natural light and open spaces that feel connected to the surrounding landscape. However, the home’s greatest success occurred in the initial design stage when the Jamison team took their off-kilter concept to council. Here, they pitched a design that challenged local planning guidelines to grant the duplex’s occupants greater livability and reduced energy consumption without detracting from the streetscape.

“Negotiations with the council to permit alternate driveway locations enabled inhabitable garages and utility rooms to share the common wall and habitable rooms to be on the outer perimeter, thereby permitting more natural light and natural cross-ventilation to the elongated duplex plan,” says architect Angela Jamison, who adds that the opposite was what was permissible by the authority guidelines, resulting in gloomy long, dark hallways. “The project is an elegant addition to the streetscape with a presence that is not dominated by the commonly sighted double-garage-door arrangement.”

More than just clients, Mark, who is a builder, put his expertise and attention to detail to good use when constructing the Jamison plan. The same is true for Simone, who took advantage of her impeccable sense of style when decorating the interior, which consists of an open-plan living, dining and kitchen space with a butler’s pantry and fridge concealed behind a rich dark timber form, leaving a central cantilevered stone island bench to take the limelight and the brunt of the action — mainly meals and homework. An entry hall leads through the ground floor and past the powder room and laundry to an impressive alfresco scene complete with a pool and yard.

The master bedroom (with an ensuite and walk-in robe) and both kids’ rooms are upstairs, where a study, children’s bathroom, separate toilet, continuous wall of storage and family room can be found.

The richly textured home beckons visitors with its 3D tiling that throws light around the space and almost begs to be touched. Boosting access to sunlight is a central courtyard and offset external blockwork blade walls that allow light to flood the hallway and provide framed views and a connection to the landscape, all while maintaining privacy between neighbours. The unassuming black-stained timber-clad wall that stands opposite the blade walls isn’t just pretty, it’s functional, too, concealing the garage door and wrapping around the utility rooms. Inside, a demure grey French oak timber floor complements the grey blockwork and softens the contrast between the white and black throughout.

Meanwhile, floor-to-ceiling glazing along the hallway dispenses natural light and supports ventilation. The hallway is slightly splayed from the entry, to further open up the connection to the north-facing open-plan living, kitchen and dining space as well as the backyard.

The internal and external material palettes are almost identical in their minimalist and contemporary natures, helping bridge the gap between indoor and outdoor living. This clean approach permits the colour and vibrancy from the landscaping to stand out and extend the sense of space. On the topic of green spaces, a side courtyard at the base of the stairs and the two-storey void above assist the natural cooling of the interior in warmer weather while improving indoor air quality for a healthier living environment. Furthermore, this enables the space to open vertically, both visually and acoustically.

As with any modern build, energy efficiency was considered. “We utilised principles of good solar design to minimise ongoing energy consumption. This included opening up to a northerly aspect to maximise natural daylight,” explains Mark. “Passive solar design principles in conjunction with the thermal mass qualities of the reverse block veneer, and the proximity of landscaped vegetation, has resulted in less energy consumption for lighting, heating and cooling and improved natural cross-ventilation and air quality. The overall result is a more comfortable and healthier living environment.”

Earning its title as a “Grand Design”, Masuto Residence offers a contemporary take on the dull duplex and shines a light — literally and figuratively — on the potential of thoughtful architecture that doesn’t simply follow the rules, but makes its own.

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