AWS Case Study

SANDHURST STREET

Alex Urena Design Studio Photography by Shaw Photography

The brief for this project was to design a small rear extension and outdoor living areas to an existing cottage perched high on the Illawarra escarpment behind the city of Bulli in New South Wales. The site slopes down south towards the yard and backs onto bushland but is also blessed with outstanding distant ocean views towards the east, only accessible at the existing’s house floor level, away from the sloping natural ground. The design challenge involved providing an extension able to be linked to the yard, the bush and the ocean without feeling disconnected from the original cottage levels.

The proposal opened up the rear side of the existing cottage to a larger living space, laid out in such a way that it can be simultaneously linked to the yard and bush on the rear side via a new covered terrace, as well as to the ocean views towards the east through a long daybed built-in towards the side. Consecutive vertical windows above the daybed frame the ocean views, whilst a corner window provides a hint of views towards the bush. Once on the terrace, a similar vertical pattern is used on the pergola's double posts to frame the bush views. Both vertical patterns can be enjoyed from inside and outside the house.

All new windows and sliding stacker doors used for the rear addition are from Architectural Window Systems, which building designer Alex Urena regards highly as the products “feel sturdy, well-crafted and are elegant to both eye & touch”

By placing the corner window as the link between the easter windows and the sliding door towards the deck, says Alex, it tricks the brain into joining the ocean views and bush as one. “When we glance at something, our brain fills in the gap. Here, we have used visual tricks to enhance and maximise the views for the occupants.”