Concept

This renovation project involved a 1970s-built home perched on sloped ground with breathtaking views over Middle Harbour in the Willoughby Council. While the location offered serene water vistas, the original design worked against them. The home was a maze of dark, enclosed rooms and small, impractical balconies that blocked its connection to the outdoors.

The clients envisioned a transformation. They saw a home filled with natural light and spaces opening to the harbour. Playoust Churcher Architects embraced this challenge with a design that merged engineering innovation, modern living principles, and a sensitivity to the site’s unique setting.

The first step was to dissolve the barriers to the view. Small balconies were removed, and their footprint was incorporated into the living areas. New sliding glass doors were engineered to glide past the external wall face, creating the illusion they ‘hang’ off the building. This detail blurred the boundaries between indoors and out, making the harbour not just a view, but an everyday feature of residential life.

Outcome

The outcome exceeded expectations. The home is a light-filled, contemporary abode that maximises its world-class location. By integrating outdoor space into the living areas and using advanced glazing solutions, the design enhances the home’s functionality and emotional experience.

The project illustrates Playoust Churcher Architects’ strength in combining advanced structural engineering with a refined architectural vision. The result is an open, airy home that is intimately connected to its natural surroundings.

As the clients reflected:

“We are so happy we used Playoust Churcher Architects for a major renovation of our Lower North Shore home. This complex architectural job combined advanced engineering, design and innovation and a creative approach to modern living… They quickly understood our lifestyle and desire for a collaborative approach and delivered us a dream home with which it would be hard to be happier.”