DESIGN IT.

Deceptively pared-back in appearance, the house is actually a feat of engineering and bespoke detail. A complex steel frame – assembled without welding due to the waterfront location – forms the foundation that every other material is built around and into. “Michelle spent a lot of time detailing the steel frame to get it right,” says John. “Once it was up, it set the framework for the rest.”

The house has three main zones: a parents’ wing, living areas and a children’s wing. “The steel frame pavilion is separated from the sleeping zones by the thick brick walls,” explains Michelle. “These walls house joinery and provide a visual and spatial separation.” In conjunction with the timber panelling that features both inside and out, the brickwork was selected not only for its aesthetic appeal but also as a means of avoiding plasterboard. “I’m not a fan of it at all,” says John. It was a labour-intensive decision, but a successful one. “The contrast of the white brick and the blackened timber siding is one of my favourite things about the house,” says Michelle.