Wyuna Road
The original house was renovated in the 1960s and from the outside, it looked like a red brick convent. As it turned out, the 400mm thick walls concealed a partially polished jewel. The original house featured an impressive timber staircase, wide architraves and period mouldings.
We carried out the new renovation in two stages: first renovating and extending the old house and then creating an attic, new garage and pool. The house was designed for a couple with four young children. The brief was to create a home that integrated the past and the present. The owners also used the work “soul” during the initial briefing.
They wanted the informal spaces to be larger. There was also no connection to the garden. Existing windows and doors were extended to stretch from floor to ceiling. We also added Juliet balconies to bedrooms on the first floor. To provide depth to the rear façade, a sandstone wall was added at basement level.
One of the main changes to the original floor plan was a new kitchen and family room at the rear of the house.
One of the most used areas is now the terrace, which leads, via large steel and glass bi-fold doors, from the family room. It features a steel and bamboo canopy arranged in a checkerboard pattern.
The original rooms have been restored. The dining room, living room, study and “great hall,” with its impressive timber staircase, are now juxtaposed with the contemporary informal spaces.
The second stage of the development focused on the pool and outdoor areas. There was an existing pool on the site but it was bordered with an unstable crumbling brick wall. A new concrete wall, clad with sandstone, was designed along with a new pool, slightly elevated above the original.
The pool is some distance from the house so a pool house with blade timber walls was built. The blades can be adjusted. If the pool house is not being used, it can be completely enclosed. (Text edited from S Crafty SMH article).
Location : Sydney, NSW
Design Architect : Luigi Rosselli
Project Architect : Candace Christensen
Interior Design : Luigi Rosselli and Melissa Collison
Structural Consultant :O’Hearn Consulting
Builder :A J Bristow & Sons and Alvaro Bros Building
Joiner :Northshore Custom Cabinetmaking and VRD Detail Joinery
Landscaper : William Dangar & Associates
Photography : Richard Glover & Will Dangar
The rear facade of a grand, multi-grand, multi-storey residence features a light-toned finish with rhythmic, floor-to-ceiling windows and Juliet balconies. A textured sandstone wall anchors the basement level, overlooking a manicured lawn and garden. Stone steps in the foreground lead from the grass to the main terrace.
© Richard Glover
The street facade features a metal-clad hip roof with a central dormer and tall, twin chimneys. A cream-coloured entry pavilion with a dark, decorative gate serves as the focal point, framed by lush greenery and a stone boundary wall. A paved path leads through the lawn to the entrance flanked by mature trees.
© Richard Glover
A flagstone and gravel path winds through tropical palms toward the residence, which stands above a manicured lawn and sandstone retaining wall. In the background, a small pool house with timber detailing completes the outdoor entertainment area. A rectangular swimming pool is set within a dark timber deck, featuring sculptural trees integrated into the decking. A long sandstone wall runs parallel to the pool, topped with a minimalist metal fence and surrounded by Mediterranean-style landscaping.
© Richard Glover
A steel and bamboo canopy in a checkerboard pattern shades an outdoor terrace, casting rhythmic shadows across the light stone flooring. Large steel and glass doors open to reveal a contemporary family room with timber furniture. Above, the white exterior wall features classic shutters and a minimalist Juliet balcony.
© Richard Glover
The swimming pool and timber deck sit in the foreground, bordered by a textured sandstone wall and a curved pool house with vertical timber blades that provide privacy and light control. Sculptural palm and cacti frame the view, leading the eye up to the white rear facade and metal roof of the main residence. The tiered landscaping creates a sense of privacy and elevation between the outdoor recreation area and the home.
© Richard Glover
A gravel garden with mature olive trees features integrated up-lighting, leading toward a tiered pool house area. White stone steps connect the lower garden to the elevated timber-clad structure, which is partially screened by vertical blades. The warm evening light emphasises the interplay between the textured landscape and the modern architectural elements.
© William Dangar
The curved pool house reveals an integrated dining area with a vibrant yellow splash back. Vertical timber blades provide a semi-enclosed feel, while a textured stone wall and lush, flowering vines frame the space. Sculptural trees and subtle floor lighting enhance the intimate, modern atmosphere of the outdoor retreat.
© William Dangar
The pool area is dramatically lit at night, featuring a glowing rectangular pool alongside a dark timber deck with two lounge chairs. A sandstone wall is accentuated by warm uplifting, while the surrounding trees are bathed in a vibrant red glow. This lighting design creates a bold, atmospheric setting for evening entertainment.
© William Dangar
The pool area at night shows underwater lights illuminating the water, which reflects onto the dark timber deck. The textured sandstone wall is highlighted by warm, vertical uplighting, while nearby shrubbery and trees are accented with a bold red glow.
© William Dangar