Cliff House
Dover Heights, NSW
Carried out in collaboration with London architects Walters and Cohen, the Cliff House is situated on the edge of an 80m sandstone cliff, facing spectacular panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.
Key to the design is the element of surprise. Approached up a narrow driveway, visitors arrive through a courtyard into a double volume space with a a small external sculpture court and the far end. The arrival space is lit from above and has no views out. It is not until visitors have climbed the stair to the first floor that they are aware of the spectacular cliff top setting and ocean views.
The house comprises of two rectilinear volumes that enclose the arrival space. These volumes are double storey with bedrooms and ancillary accommodation below and living accommodation at first floor level. The roofs are articulated as two offset floating planes.
The living accommodation at the first floor level maximises the views and creates a sense of living on the bow of an ocean liner.
Environmental design
Acor
Landscape
Barbarah Schaffer
Electrics/Lighting
Lighting, Art and Science
Builder
Bellevarde Constructions
Structure
Murtagh Bond