For architect Tom Kundig, home isn’t a place to retreat from the world; it’s somewhere that should inspire you to go out and explore it. Known for creating houses in some of the world’s most awe-inspiring settings in his role as design principal for architecture firm Olson Kundig, Tom believes that they should, ‘take a back seat to their environment, creating a launching pad for you to get out and enjoy nature’.
And what a place to enjoy! Situated on the hillside overlooking Sydney’s Bilgola Beach, this new-build has a panoramic view that takes in almost the full sandy stretch of the bay. Built as a dream home for a local couple – who, after years of living abroad, felt the pull back to this beauty spot as their retirement approached – the property is striking but, above all, functional.
Protected from encroaching tides by a secant pile wall (a series of interlocking concrete pillars bored into the cliff face to prevent future landslides) and shielded from the sun by unique horizontal blinds, this is a house built for an environment that is breathtaking but often unforgiving.
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‘Harsh sunlight, strong winds, major storms, flooding…’ lists Tom, who has prepared for every eventuality. The shutters are a unique Olson Kundig design, crafted to allow total control over shade, while also able to fold flat and disappear from view. After all, nothing should get in the way of that ocean vista.
Entering the home from the roadside, you walk into the central courtyard, with its calming reflection pool. From here, you can see the two wings that make up this property. One single-storey section contains four guest bedrooms and two bathrooms, while the other hosts the main living spaces on the ground floor, as well as a vast bedroom and bathroom above.
To counter the industrial nature of the exterior (all board-formed concrete and steel), the inside makes use of more tactile materials. The ceilings throughout are covered in hemlock (a soft wood native to North America, where Olson Kundig has its head office), while, upstairs, the same timber also clads the walls.
The effect, says Tom, is like a ‘bento box’. It is cosy and intimate, but picks up on the tones of the landscape, from the shifting sands to the sunsets that paint the space with a warm glow.
Furniture throughout is a mixture of Olson Kundig originals made in collaboration with local artisans, designer pieces from the likes of B&B Italia and Cassina, and vintage finds. The intention is that this is a space that will only improve with age. Fittingly, that approach chimes with Tom’s hopes for the architecture itself.
‘We wanted the house to feel as if it had grown out of the dunes, using materials that draw inspiration from the colours of the sand and the cliffs,’ he explains. ‘Over time, those colours will continue to soften, blending even more fully into the landscape.’ olsonkundig.com
