'Woodford House' Longueville

INTRODUCTION

“A Contemporary Masterpiece: Light-Filled Living on Sydney Harbour”

Nestled in the exclusive harbourside suburb of Longueville on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, this residence enjoys a prime location overlooking the serene waters of Woodford Bay. Longueville, situated just 8 kilometers northwest of Sydney’s central business district, is renowned for its tranquil, leafy environment and breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour, including iconic landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge and the city skyline.

This contemporary residence is designed to provide a luminous and welcoming environment for everyday living. Emphasizing the natural beauty of its surroundings, the home is thoughtfully configured to maximize light, space, and connection to the outdoors.

The residence is ingeniously arranged with the main living areas situated on the top level. This design choice not only ensures easy access from street level but also optimizes solar exposure, bathing the living spaces in natural light throughout the day. Expansive windows and open-plan layouts create a bright and airy atmosphere, enhancing the overall sense of well-being for its occupants.

The architectural design embraces the stunning harbour views while maintaining intimate spaces for everyday use. The living areas open seamlessly towards the waterfront, providing uninterrupted vistas that blur the line between indoors and outdoors. The use of large sliding glass doors further enhances this connection, inviting the tranquil beauty of Woodford Bay into the home.

This design encourages a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor living, perfect for entertaining guests or enjoying quiet moments with family. The tiered roof design is another innovative feature, allowing abundant natural light to filter through the residence from the northerly aspect, further enhancing the light-filled environment.

COUNCIL DA PROCESS

The design of this new dwelling is substantially larger than the previous dwelling. However, the design of our new roof form and the height of the proposed dwellng remain below the existing roof ridge level. And as part of our DA submission, we illustrated the potential view loss analysis from the neighbours living areas. Subsequently, on review of this information, the DA received only 1 objection and the DA was approved in just over 90 days.

Council – Lane Cove Council

DETAILED DESIGN DEVELOPMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION

After DA approval, the process shifts from planning to bringing the vision for the design to fruition. This process is the collaboration between the client, architect and the consultants in a process that evolves over several weeks. We relate this process too akin to a complex jigsaw puzzle, the pieces can change over time. However, through a process of evaluation of each element being resolved.

BUDGET

Since COVID-19 in 2020, the cost of construction has increased by approximately 2.5 times due to material and labour costs. Our approach to building cost is to colloborate with builders early in the process, to give owners some reassurance that the proposed dwelling is within their budget. With our experience with similar projects we discussed with the owner various approaches to various elements such as structural solutions in consideration to cost of construction.

CONSULTANTS

Architect – StudioJLA
Interior Designer – Mia Lake Interiors
Builder – DI Mark Constructions
Structural Engineer – Istruct Engineers
Hydraulic Engineer – Istruct Engineers
Town Planner – Ingham Planning
Landscape Architect – Grindstone Landscapes
Council – Lane Cove Council