my design fix

Freshwater House – Chenchow Little Architects

The Freshwater House was recently announced as the winner of the 2009 Robin Boyd Award – Australia’s highest award for residential architecture.

Designed by Chenchow Little Architects, the house is situated in the coastal Sydney suburb of Harbord, overlooking Queenscliffe Bay and an adjacent reserve.

From the street the house appears as a modernist black box floating above a wall of weathered timber slats. Made from recylcled spotted gum, the timber slats conceal the garage while also forming a podium for the garden terrace and main living area above.

The use of full height glazing and sliding doors creates a strong connection between the internal living areas and the lawned terrace. (How cool is the lone tree and the little lawn mound?)

The bedrooms on the the upper level are enclosed by a series of dark metal slatted screens. These operable screens allow the house to take advantage of the amazing view through extensive glazing while still allowing for sun control and privacy.

Photos: John Gollings

For more work by Chenchow Little Architects visit their website here.

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