Above: A pond – seen through the windows in this
shot – runs along the central axis between the two
wings. The stairs are at the ground floor bridging
point between the kitchen in the far wing and the
dining room in the near wing. The door opens to a
pathway alongside the pond, leading to a guest/
study room and bathroom, and on to the garage.
Facing page: Designed for family living, the large
kitchen has two islands and sits in a double height,
cathedral-like space. Up above is the parents’
master suite, with a glazed opening allowing light
into their robe. Access to a separate dining room
in the other wing is across the bridge to the right.
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A sandstone boundary wall was the only
element considered as worth keeping.
“Given that the home would be
exposed to the street on two sides, it was
crucial that any design response preserved
privacy, while also maximising links to the
outdoors,” says Cole.
Bringing all the elements together, his
design consists of two wings stretched
along the site, separated by a pond run-
ning down the central axis between them.
Conceptually, Cole likens this arrange-
ment to a natural gorge in which water
cuts through to form secluded spaces,
with overscale walls generating the final
form of the two wings.
On the ground floor of the smaller of
the wings is the spacious kitchen, with a
family living space on one side and a cov-
ered outdoor terrace leading to the pool
on the other side.
The parent’s master suite sits above on
first floor of this wing, with as much sepa-
ration as possible from the other areas of
the home.
The three children’s bedrooms and