Design notebook
Q&A with Mike Hartley and Ben Lloyd of Lloyd Hartley Architects
Keeping the existing boundary restricted the design. How did you create interest in the home? MIKE HARTLEY The roofline to the entry side of the house was a continuation of the existing outline, however we were able to play with the form by hollowing out an entry court at the lower level. This sculptural approach followed through to the northern side, where we were able to introduce a private courtyard off the main bedroom at the upper level. Internally, we were able to manipulate the rake and height of the ceilings. This, combined with the introduction of skylights at critical points, defines and varies the spatial experience of the home. The bathrooms are some of the most luxurious rooms in the house – how did you go about forming a sense of sanctuary here? BEN LLOYD Each of the bathrooms had their own separate brief. They’re spaces that we love to design: a chance to work with light and materials in a more personal and tactile way. The brief for the en suite was to create a spa-like space. Engaging with the exterior landscaping and bringing in as much natural light as possible while maintaining privacy was crucial. The powder room was an opportunity to contrast the open, bright living areas with a space that was intimate, playful and unexpected. The home is like a little private retreat from the city, but it’s also great for hosting and parties. How did you balance respite with being social? MH One of the key aspects from the original brief was flexibility of space and the capacity to entertain on a large scale without compromising the ability to provide intimate family living. It’s easy to design large open-plan spaces but, for most of the time, a home is only used by a small group of people. Tailored cabinetry, interconnecting spaces and access to decks allow this home to ‘breathe’ and accommodate large numbers, while still maintaining the sense of privacy and closeness required in a family home. The living area was key to opening up to the view and making the most of the site. How did you achieve this? BL The primary design move was to create additional volume at the western end of the home by re-framing the roof and having the ceilings follow the pitch of the new roof structure. This brought in a significant amount of natural light and allowed the space to open out to the stunning and ever-changing views over Coxs Bay. A large deck, operable louvre roof and an exterior fireplace give this part of the house the flexibility to be used throughout the year, in almost any weather.