Clifftop Summerhouse

Sitting atop one of Sydney’s iconic sandstone cliffs, this summerhouse was designed to create a space for entertaining and leisure overlooking the ocean. The soft shapes of the building echo the natural undulations of the eroded sandstone coastal landscape.

Garden, garage and storage at the ground floor level. Covered deck, lounge and bedroom on the upper floor take advantage of the panoramic views while providing amenity to the swimming pool - which was retained from the original renovation.

The overlapping concrete roofs supported by organic-shaped mushroom columns create an open layout that plays with light and shadow while integrating the existing palm trees into the architecture.

Smooth rendered surfaces envelope the spaces with continuous curving lines that connect the levels through a floating spiral stair and bespoke brass railing.

Planters filled with coastal vegetation further integrate the building with its natural surroundings; vanishing the boundaries between the natural and the built environment. A round cutout on the concrete roof frames the sky with its ever-changing colour.

The palette of timber, sandstone and handmade aqua tiles compliment the blue sky and water of the pool and surrounds.

The design of the roofs shade the summer sun while allowing for the winter sun to penetrate and warm the slab. High-performance glazing, thermal mass, solar panels, and coastal landscaping are some of the strategies implemented to reduce energy consumption.