Australian Architecture Wins Big on the World Stage
Step inside the breathtaking Sydney home that walked away with top honours at this week's World Architecture Festival
Georgia Madden
6 December 2019
A striking new home in Sydney’s Castle Cove, NSW, has won the Best Completed Buildings – House award at the 2019 World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, beating 14 other shortlisted completed houses – six of which came from Australia.
Castle Cove House, by architectural firm Terroir, takes its cues from Californian mid-century architecture – a sculptural, concrete structure with irregular lines that echoes the contours of the surrounding terrain. Judges described it as “an indeterminate form that is distinctively new but could equally be a strange object ‘unearthed’ during excavation”.
The three-day World Architecture Festival, which ends on 6 December 2019, recognises the finest residential and commercial architecture around the globe, and draws architects from around the world. The Best Completed Buildings – House award is one of the most prestigious awards handed out during the festival.
Come inside and see for yourself the features that wowed the judges.
Castle Cove House, by architectural firm Terroir, takes its cues from Californian mid-century architecture – a sculptural, concrete structure with irregular lines that echoes the contours of the surrounding terrain. Judges described it as “an indeterminate form that is distinctively new but could equally be a strange object ‘unearthed’ during excavation”.
The three-day World Architecture Festival, which ends on 6 December 2019, recognises the finest residential and commercial architecture around the globe, and draws architects from around the world. The Best Completed Buildings – House award is one of the most prestigious awards handed out during the festival.
Come inside and see for yourself the features that wowed the judges.
Images by Brett Boardman
Judges’ comments: “What initially seems to be a simple integration of house into landscape is so much more. With the diversity and complexity of space there is a visual shattering of boundaries between inside and out. The use of well-tested ‘architectural instruments and tools’ define and punctuate the concept. A rigorous process of thought and organically responsive design enriches the functionality with the poetic. The moments of joy just keep coming.”
Inspired to create your own little piece of architectural history? Find a local architect on Houzz to make it happen
Judges’ comments: “What initially seems to be a simple integration of house into landscape is so much more. With the diversity and complexity of space there is a visual shattering of boundaries between inside and out. The use of well-tested ‘architectural instruments and tools’ define and punctuate the concept. A rigorous process of thought and organically responsive design enriches the functionality with the poetic. The moments of joy just keep coming.”
Inspired to create your own little piece of architectural history? Find a local architect on Houzz to make it happen
The bold, concrete form is topped with a continuous zinc membrane that folds over to form a smaller pocket to the rear, which contains private rooms. Both the concrete and zinc will patinate over time, moving again from resembling a new to pre-existing form.
Warm timber detailing brings to mind Californian mid-century architecture, and creates a link to the natural world outside.
Brass, steel and mirrored touches visually expand the sense of internal space, making it feel bigger than it is.
Winners of the 2019 Australian Interior Design Awards
Winners of the 2019 Australian Interior Design Awards
The basement acts as a cold sink that allows cool air to be constantly drawn through the main living spaces via floor vents and operable skylights, which are tilted north to draw in heat and assist in the convection process.
2019 Australian Institute of Architects’ Award Winners Revealed
2019 Australian Institute of Architects’ Award Winners Revealed
The house has been designed to maximise thermal comfort and minimise energy consumption. Energy-efficient features include cross ventilation, generous overhangs, thermal mass, double glazing, internal and external blinds and underfloor heating.
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Want to be wowed by more incredible architecture? Don’t miss Poetry in Motion: The World’s Most Audacious Modern Architecture
Your turn
Tell us what you like about this house in the Comments below, save the images for inspiration and like this story. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Want to be wowed by more incredible architecture? Don’t miss Poetry in Motion: The World’s Most Audacious Modern Architecture
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Not really a fan of the concrete look, but I wonder will the concrete colour age (or darken). Sydney sandstone in all its glory will darken over the years and often in its natural state will have a dark grey "crust" over the top. If the concrete develops like this I think it will sit in the landscape more naturally.
Love the raw concrete aesthetic and this design is well proportioned as it hugs the landscape. Well done to the architect!
Although I find the appearance of this home interesting & attractive, the fact that is made of concrete is a big no-no to me.
Yes, the vast levels of thermal mass this creates will make this home very comfortable to live in - if this mass receives ample sunshine in winter, & is shaded in summer - with very stable indoor temperatures.
But cement production is a huge emitter of greenhouse gases, a source of 8% of the world's CO2 emissions. Put another way, if the cement industry was a country, it would be the third largest emitter in the world, behind only China & the US!
The fact that this Sydney home is being celebrated on the world stage - as New South Wales burns, & Sydney chokes on bushfire smoke caused by climate change - just rubs me the wrong way.
Yes, it would totally change the appearance of the home, but using a different material, sustainably sourced timber - which actually absorbs CO2, locking it in the structure - would be worth celebrating.