Located at the crest of a steep sand embankment, Sandcastle is built on a block many considered too difficult to build on; a forty-five-degree slope that presented a climb to reach the house even a mountain goat would find challenging. Yet despite this, and the added constraint of a sewer main running through the middle of the site, our young clients were not discouraged when they bravely chose to purchase the site in Sydney’s Point Piper to create their home.
At the time our clients approached Luigi Rosselli Architects with the vision for their project, Luigi Rosselli’s son, Raffaello Rosselli was keen to collaborate with his father in tandem with running his own architectural practice, and Luigi believed that a young architect would be a good match for the young couple.
The resulting design was mindful in maintaining the natural slope of the site with minimal encumbrances such as stairs and retaining walls, instead the street access at the bottom of the site was partially hidden below ground next to the garage. One follows a winding set of stairs to re-emerge above the entry gate onto a small plateau that offers a view towards the beach across the road. From there a steep garden stair with a rope handrail leads to the front door. Those in the know can hop in the lift, positioned at the end of a tunnel at the street entry level.
Construction was made somewhat difficult by the nature of the terrain; sand tends to behave like a fluid if it is not stabilised. The excavation of large amounts of sand was required for both the lift tunnel and the house. Once excavated the sand was stored on site in large bags and then used to reconstruct the site’s original topography. Raffaello Rosselli defied both the engineers and the landscapers in refusing to construct a series of retaining walls to hold the sand in place, instead a method generally used to stabilise sand dunes, which uses horizontal layers of geofabric to wrap back the sand layer over layer was employed. The sand substrate was then covered with native grasses and plants.
As a name, Sandcastle references the towering castle-like appearance of the home above the streetscape. The three-storey rise of this home is a result of the intention to lower the entry as close as possible to ground level, raise the upper levels to take advantage of the aspect of the site, and create a vertical link from the entry to the living and bedroom levels on the upper floors. Sand as a theme for the site is continued in the robust masonry, handmade bricks in a custom light colour mix have a rich textural and timeless appeal. Sun screens using the same bricks were designed to provide transparency and shade without weakening the structure. To the middle level of the home there is a private, north facing courtyard with a flat surface to allow the children to play soccer or basketball or cricket without losing the balls down the house’s steeply sloped landscaping.
Location: Point Piper
Council: Woollahra Council
Design Architect: Raffaello Rosselli
Production Manager: Luigi Rosselli
Project Architects: Raffaello Rosselli, Jeffrey Blewett
Landscape Architect: Dangar Barin Smith
Interior Designer: Romaine Alwill for Alwill Interiors
Structural Consultant: Geoff Nines Fong & Partners Pty Ltd
Builder: Cumberland Building Pty Ltd
Joiner: Sydney Joinery
Photographer: Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
Brise-soleil sun screens using the same handmade slim bricks by Robertson Bricks. provide transparency whilst reinforcing the structure.
© Prue Ruscoe
Solid sandstone and playful concrete walls begin the journey into the ‘Sandcastle’.
© Prue Ruscoe
The slim minimalistic windows by Victrocsa. let the soft facade elements and custom-made shutters stand out.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
A rope handrail adorns the 45 degree garden walk, up to the entry at the terminus of the stairwell.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
From Sandcastle’s private, north facing courtyard and swimming pool, one can contemplate the vista of Vaucluse. life happening on the slopes below and out onto the harbour beyond, where a flotilla of boats bobs serenely in the water.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
Corners of retreat beneath Banksia Trees and Australian coastal inspired garden planting by Dangar Barin Smith..
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
Looking back towards towards the entry of 'Sandcastle'. Handmade bricks and brise soleil screens frame the view outwards over Sydney Harbour.
© Prue Ruscoe
Sculpture by Stephen Ormandy. at the entry of 'Sandcastle', contrasting the earthy tones of the slim limed bricks and custom-made joinery by Sydney Joinery.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
Joinery wall, handcrafted by Sydney Joinery. harmonises with the elements selected by interior Designer Romaine from Alwill Interiors.
© Prue Ruscoe
Office at 'Sandcastle' with custom made shutters filtering the afternoon light, whilst the wall of handmade bricks reinforce a sense of calmness and timeless elegance in tune with the mid-century design elements like this Artwork by Francois Bonnel.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
Craftmanship of Sydney Joinery can be found throughout ‘Sandcastle’, from hidden switch panels to elegant custom elements.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
The robust masonry walls made of handmade bricks evoke the idea that the home has been carved from sand, providing a rich textural and timeless appeal. Sculpture by Kate Banazi.
© Prue Ruscoe
Pendant Light Waldorf Suspension double by Lambert & Fils.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
Suspended fireplace defining the open dining & living areas in 'Sandcastle'. The custom coloured bricks complement the ensemble of textures and sand hues. Artwork by Stephen Ormandy.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
Waven modern furniture handpicked by interior designer Romaine Alwill. Contrasting the sandy hues from the brick walls in harmony with the Brise Soleil pattern.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
Waldorf pendant Light by Lambert & Fils.
complementing the clean lines of the slim windows.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
Home office space at 'Sandcastle' overlooking the everchanging shimmering colours of Sydney Harbour. With selected pieces by Alwill Interiors from Cult.
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
© Prue Ruscoe
Travertine, smoked timbers and handmade Japanese tiles create an organic feel.
© Prue Ruscoe
Raffaello Rosselli.
© Prue Ruscoe