PROJECT OVERVIEW
A split-level custom home designed for a sloping, bushfire-prone site in Springwood with Flame Zone exposure.
Location: Springwood, NSW
Project Type: Custom New Home
Council: Blue Mountains City Council
Approval: DA Approved & Built
PROJECT GALLERY
THE BRIEF
The brief was to create a contemporary family home that could work with the site's narrow proportions, substantial fall and established bushland setting. The residence was planned with three bedrooms, living and dining areas, kitchen, laundry, powder room and double garage, using a split-level arrangement rather than forcing the entire house onto a single level.
THE DESIGN RESPONSE
Working With the Site
The building footprint falls approximately 3.6 metres from south to north, making the positioning and floor levels an important part of the design. The dwelling was kept within the site's lower-slope development area, avoiding the more constrained portions of the property. The garage level was also lowered to respond to the required driveway profile, while the remainder of the home steps through different floor levels.
Designing for Flame Zone
Bushfire exposure was a major influence on the project. The assessment identified forest vegetation approximately 15 metres from the dwelling with an effective downslope of approximately 20 degrees to the north. This resulted in the site being assessed as Flame Zone (BAL-FZ). The southern elevation benefited from shielding created by the building itself and was permitted to adopt BAL-40 construction requirements, while the more exposed areas required the higher level of bushfire response.
PROJECT OUTCOME
The result is a completed Blue Mountains home shaped directly by its site. Rather than treating the slope and bushfire requirements as separate technical issues, they influenced the siting, levels and overall form of the residence from the beginning of the design process.The project was approved and has since been built.