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the structure’s design,” the architect says.
Schist clads the base of the building and the
large garage that forms a plinth for the house.
Wayne Foley, director of Trinity Development
Alliance, who also managed the entire project
and commissioned the consultants, says the
steep site created construction challenges.
“Terracing the slope to provide three flat
levels involved huge cuts into the site, some of
which were up to 11m deep,” he says. “It also
required massive structural concrete beams
in the 5m-high garage, which has a lawn and
landscaping above. The building itself mainly

sits apart from the cliff, with just a couple of
connections, so it is seismically isolated in the
event of an earthquake.”
Entry to the house is through the garage,
which acts as a porte cochère – it leads to a
lift and a large spiral staircase. Access is also
provided by an outdoor stair, and stairs that
descend from the street above, to the main
living level of the house.
“The sculptural spiral staircase linking all
three levels of the house is part of the excitement
of the building,” says the architect. “With a fully
glazed wall, the views are maximised. We also

Top: The games-media room behind
the kitchen opens to an outdoor
terrace. A bar at one end of the
room features a marble counter and
leather-upholstered bar stools.
Above: At the other end of the
media room a climate-controlled
wine cellar features bricks salvaged
from the Manchester Court Building
in Christchu ɍ