Design Overview
Dural House is a contemporary single-storey acreage home designed on a sloping property in Dural, with an eight-car basement garage and workshop beneath the main living level. The four-bedroom design includes an internal lift, generous entertaining areas and views across the surrounding acreage. Passive solar design, room orientation and extensive glazing were carefully considered to improve natural light, ventilation and year-round comfort.
DA & CC Approval - Hornsby Shire Council
More About This Project
The Brief
Luxury Acreage Home Design on a Sloping Property in Dural
Dural House involved designing a contemporary four-bedroom residence on an acreage property in Dural, Sydney's Hills District.
The owners wanted a spacious family home with three separate living areas, a gym, generous entertaining spaces and garaging with workshop facilities for up to eight cars.
The property had a substantial slope, making the positioning of the home and vehicle access particularly important.
Having previously designed another home for these owners in Dural, we were given considerable freedom to develop the architecture, layout and exterior finishes.
The Design Response
Designing an Eight-Car Basement Garage and Workshop
Rather than spreading the substantial garaging across the property, we used the natural slope to incorporate an eight-car garage and workshop beneath the main residence.
This allowed us to provide the vehicle accommodation the owners wanted while maintaining a largely single-storey appearance from the main approach.
The basement also incorporates a bathroom and an internal lift, making it easier to move between the garage and living areas, particularly when carrying groceries or luggage.
Passive Solar Design and Acreage Views
The property presented an interesting design opportunity, with the front facing north and expansive rural views to the east.
We positioned the bedrooms towards the northern side of the home to capture winter sunlight, while the main living areas were placed towards the rear to take advantage of the surrounding acreage views.
Carefully positioned glazing on the eastern and western sides helps bring natural light into the home throughout the day.
The aim was to create comfortable living spaces that made good use of both the sun and the outlook, rather than choosing one at the expense of the other.
Contemporary Architecture and Interior Design
The exterior combines contemporary roof forms with feature stonework, Corten steel and timber detailing.
Inside, we worked closely with the owners on the architectural detailing and material selections, with Leigh Holt Interiors assisting with lighting, furniture and interior finishes.
The completed home includes generous open-plan living spaces, polished concrete floors, large areas of glazing and substantial outdoor entertaining facilities.
Project Outcome
DA & CC Approval for Luxury Acreage Home in Dural
Development Application approval was secured in approximately eight weeks, with no neighbour objections recorded in the published project account.
Construction Certificate approval is also recorded for the project.
The completed residence provides four bedrooms, extensive family living spaces, an eight-car basement garage and workshop, and an internal lift, all designed around the property's natural slope.
Dural House was completed in 2022 and was subsequently recognised as a finalist in two national building design award categories.
Awards & Recognition
Building Designers Association of Australia – 2022 National Design Awards
Finalist – New Residential Building Over 450 m²
Finalist – Residential Interiors
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