PROJECT OVERVIEW
A split-level custom home designed around a steep 12-metre cross fall, bushfire constraints and a restricted building envelope in the foothills above the Nepean River.
Location: Emu Heights, NSW
Project Type: Custom Home / Split-Level Acreage Residence
Design Services: Custom Home Design, Architectural Drafting, DA Documentation & BASIX
Council: Penrith City Council
Approval: DA Approved | Built
Design Focus: Steep Sloping Site, 12m Cross Fall, Bushfire-Prone Land, Restricted Building Envelope, Split-Level Design & Nepean River Setting
THE BRIEF
The brief was to create a substantial family home that could take advantage of the bushland setting while responding directly to the steep terrain. Accommodation included four bedrooms, multiple living areas, media room, kitchen and dining areas, alfresco entertaining, pool, gym, storage and a two-car basement garage. The challenge was fitting these requirements into a designated 1,047m² building envelope on a 49,090m² property, while resolving vehicle access, bushfire requirements and a cross fall of approximately 12 metres.
THE DESIGN RESPONSE
Rather than heavily benching the site, the house was broken into four split levels and positioned to run largely parallel with the natural contours. This allowed the building to step down the escarpment and substantially reduce the amount of excavation and fill required. Suspended concrete floor construction was also incorporated to work with the natural landform while providing thermal mass and bushfire protection. The architectural character was deliberately contemporary and rural, using flat and skillion roof forms that follow the direction of the land. Dark metal and Corten-style cladding, natural stone and earthy finishes were selected to sit comfortably within the surrounding bushland. A northern alfresco area provides winter solar access, with adjustable shading and the pool positioned nearby for warmer months. The BASIX design also incorporated measures including a 50,000-litre rainwater tank, solar hot water and photovoltaic electricity generation.
PROJECT OUTCOME
Council approval was achieved for a custom home where steep terrain, bushfire exposure, vehicle access and a tightly defined building envelope all directly influenced the architecture. The completed home uses its split-level form to follow the escarpment rather than impose a conventional level building platform on the site, creating a substantial family residence that remains closely connected to its natural setting.
PROJECT GALLERY
