Happy Places From kit homes to reading nooks

Inspired by barn-like timber structures and at one with the garden, the Bondi family home of designer William Dangar is a natural wonder.

Wil li am Dangar is no stranger to transforming homes. As the creative director of his eponymous landscape-design business, he’s usually found in the garden, but has also undertaken building projects as part of his broader business, Dangar Group (behind the Robert Plumb outdoor furniture brand). One of his most recent projects is his own home in beachside Sydney.

Will and his wife Julia bought the 480m2 property in 2013. The corner block had a rundown California bungalow on it and was a good size for the area. There was a catch, however. “The block is shaped like a slice of pizza,” he says. “No one knew what to do with it.”

Where many saw challenges, the Dangars drew on their wealth of industry experience to see the possibilities. With all that space to play with, they could build a family home for themselves and their children, Summer, nine, and Tom, seven. It would have a fabulous garden, naturally.

The couple approached architect Michelle Orszaczky and interior designer Romy Alwill, with whom they had worked on several previous projects.

Michelle says the triangular block provided an opportunity to create a house and garden that are integrated along their lengths. The house was inspired by photographs of huts in Greenland and black barn-style homes in New Zealand. Traditional Japanese architecture, shou sugi ban (charredtimber clad) structures in particular, also plays a role.

A 6.6m void at the entrance creates a jaw-dropping first impression for visitors. To the right is the airy open-plan kitchen/dining/living area. A second void above the dining zone draws more light into the space, which is painted Dulux Natural White to help bounce the light around. On the first floor are the home’s four bedrooms (the main with ensuite), the family bathroom and a family room.

The footprint is a relatively modest 290m2, but the home feels very light and spacious – a combination of the voids, the white backdrop and the generous glass panels that slide open to create a seamless connection with the garden.

To soften the interior, Romy specified textural linens for the curtains and upholstery, open-weave pendant lights and American oak for the joinery. The palette is neutral so as not to compete with the garden views.

While the new home was only completed in 2015, it feels warm and well lived in. “There is an ease and authenticity here, because it’s a reflection of the family,” says Romy.

“We love our home,” says Julia. “We get complacent about how fabulous it is because we’re in it all the time. But when guests and friends come around, they are blown away.”

Clayton Orszaczky, Sydney, NSW; coarchitecture.co. Alwill, Surry Hills, NSW; alwill.com.au.

Dangar Group, Botany, NSW; dangargroup.com.