PROJECT OVERVIEW
CDC-approved knockdown rebuild in Lawson, creating a four-bedroom single-storey home designed for modern family living and its established Blue Mountains setting.
Location: Lawson, NSW
Project Type: Knockdown Rebuild & Custom New Home
Approval: CDC Approved
PROJECT GALLERY
THE BRIEF
The owners wanted to replace the existing home with a larger residence designed around the way their family lives now. The brief called for a spacious single-level layout with four bedrooms, separate living areas and a substantial central family zone, while avoiding the appearance of an oversized suburban project home. A strong connection between the architecture and the established Lawson setting was also important, with a lower-scale exterior and materials more sympathetic to the Blue Mountains streetscape.
THE DESIGN RESPONSE
The home was kept to a single storey and given a series of articulated roof forms to break down its overall scale from the street. Horizontal cladding, masonry detailing, a defined front entry and covered patio introduce familiar residential elements, while the internal planning is distinctly contemporary. The layout includes four bedrooms, a separate theatre and a large open-plan kitchen and living area, with a butler’s pantry and supporting service spaces incorporated into the plan. Site investigations identified existing fill and resulted in a Class P site classification, with the underlying soil assessed as Class S. Rock was also encountered during one of the borehole investigations. These conditions were identified before construction documentation so the structural and footing design could respond appropriately. Energy performance was developed alongside the building design, with the final NatHERS assessment achieving 7.3 stars.
PROJECT OUTCOME
The project received Complying Development Certificate approval for demolition of the existing structures and construction of the new single-storey dwelling and associated retaining walls. The approved design delivers a substantially more functional family home while maintaining the scale and architectural character appropriate to an established Lawson residential street. The result is a contemporary knockdown rebuild that responds to its site, provides significantly improved family accommodation and achieves strong thermal performance without relying on an overtly modern architectural expression.