Quarterdeck House
Located high on the shores of Little Bay, the Quarterdeck House is part of an award winning subdivision of land in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. The grounds on which the house is built belonged to a coastal hospital that was later the location of the historical installation artwork Wrapped Coast – One Million Square Feet by Cristo and Jeanne-Claude. The installation involved the wrapping of the nearby rock escarpment in 1968.
As one of four houses designed in the subdivision by Luigi Rosselli Architects, each one is quite different from the next to reflect the clients brief and needs, as well as the different sites. The trapezoidal site on which this house sits allowed for a wide ground floor living space facing the ocean view, and upstairs a narrow and long cantilevered structure projecting the master bedroom and its balcony out towards the sea. The two volumes have been connected vertically at the pivot by a stairwell. The stairwell is expressed in the street frontage as a sandstone bastion complete with embrasures.
The living room windows slide away to provide an unobstructed opening onto a timber deck that is surrounded by a shallow water filled moat, part of which is a spa. The master bedroom can also open fully on the pulpit like balcony, hovering above the golfers and beach goers, and in close symbiosis with the ocean.
Location : Little Bay, Sydney, NSW
Design Architect : Luigi Rosselli
Project Architects: Simon Hassall
Joinery Design Architect : Sean Johnson
Landscape Architect : Terragram
Landscape contractor : Bates Landscape
Interior Designer : Lily Jia
Structural Consultant : Alba Associates
Builder : David Anderson, Anderson Building Contractors
Joiner : Reino Joinery, A&S Joinery
Window Furnishings : Accent Blinds
Photography : Justin Alexander
View from the neighbours property defines the upper level projecting outward as a long cantilever, creating a strong contrast to the grounded base below. This elevated volume is oriented directly toward the horizon.
© Justin Alexander
The coastal residence is set into a sloping site overlooking the ocean, defined by strong horizontal lines and layered volumes. The house composition responds to expansive views and the dramatic shoreline setting.
© Justin Alexander
A lower-level living space oriented toward the ocean, combining a seating area and fireplace within a calm, open plan interior.
© Justin Alexander
Full-height sliding doors frame the view beyond, reinforcing the connection between the interior atmosphere and the coastal outlook. At the shoreline edge, the architecture opens fully to the coastal panorama, with living spaces visually merging into sky and sea. The composition emphasises uninterrupted connection to the surrounding environment.
© Justin Alexander
A central stairwell acts as a vertical spine, connecting the broad ground floor with the elevated upper level. Natural light filters through carefully placed apertures, emphasising the mass of the surrounding walls.
© Justin Alexander
A close-up view of the stairwell looking upward, emphasising its vertical ascent through the building. Light filters in from above, highlighting the sandstone and the sculptural quality of the stair volume as it connects the levels.
© Justin Alexander
The entry approach is marked by a sculptural sandstone form that anchors the house to the street. Controlled openings provide privacy while hinting at the vertical circulation within.
© Justin Alexander
The stairwell volume is expressed externally as a solid sandstone element with precise cut openings. It reads as sculptural anchor within the overall composition.
© Justin Alexander
Material contrast defines the building, with heavy masonry volumes balanced against light glass and timber elements. This contrast highlights the relationship between solidity and openness.
© Justin Alexander
A side view of the facade, defined by solid sandstone forms and carefully composed openings. The building presents a restrained, fortress-like edge to the street, contrasting its openness toward the ocean.
© Justin Alexander
Sliding glass doors allow the living area to extend directly onto an outdoor timber deck. The threshold between inside and outside is reduced to a continuous living surface.
© Justin Alexander
A contemporary kitchen integrated within the open plan living space, featuring streamlined cabinetry and a central island. Large openings connect the interior directly to the ocean-facing deck, allowing light and views to define the space.
© Justin Alexander
A close up side view of the external cladding highlighting the massing of sandstone and the vertical circulation core. The composition balances privacy at the street edge with glimpses of light and internal movement.
© Justin Alexander