Yowie Bay.

The site set the terms. A steep fall and sandstone outcrops through the middle of the block drove the excavation, the structure and the order of the build. The new front elevation sits above a garage podium in sandstone brick, so the house lands on the rock rather than floating over it.

The character of the original home was kept. New weatherboard cladding runs alongside the retained brickwork, and long horizontal roof planes with continuous bands of glazing carry the new form. It reads as one home, not an old house with an addition bolted on.

The steel is on show. Exposed beams carry the long spans across the living level, which meant setting out, welding and finishing them to a standard that holds up close. Getting that right took steady coordination between the engineer, the architect and the site team.

Inside, the palette stays quiet so the valley views do the work. Frameless highlight windows bring the sky into the upper level, and they only sit that cleanly because the framing tolerances and waterproofing were sorted before the glass arrived.

Family living, bedrooms and quieter rooms are spread across the three levels, each connected by changes in level and light. Every junction between stone, steel and timber was set out on site with the architect so the finished home matched the drawings.

Collaborators: Chapman Architecture, Tim Shaw Photography

Architect-designed alteration and addition delivered by Duostruct in Yowie Bay, Sydney, with Chapman Architecture.