PROJECT OVERVIEW
Location: Wheeler Heights NSW | Northern Beaches
Project Type: Knockdown Rebuild Custom Home
Council: Northern Beaches Council (formerly Warringah Council)
Site Constraints: Minor Building Envelope Variation
Contemporary knockdown rebuild in Wheeler Heights, designed around a narrow sloping site with a six-car basement garage, secondary dwelling and integrated outdoor living.
PROJECT GALLERY
THE BRIEF
The brief was to replace the existing dwelling with a new custom family home that made practical use of the long, narrow and significantly sloping site. The owners required four bedrooms, multiple living areas and a large six-car basement garage capable of accommodating vehicles, plant, equipment and additional recreational storage.
The project also included a detached 60m² two-bedroom secondary dwelling at the rear of the property and a swimming pool, with the overall design required to maintain privacy, natural light, district views and practical connections between the main residence and outdoor areas.
THE DESIGN RESPONSE
The approximately 6.7-metre fall across the site was used as part of the design solution, allowing the six-car garage and storage areas to be incorporated at basement level while the principal living areas were positioned above. The garage level was carefully set to achieve a workable driveway profile from Berith Street.
The home's upper level was deliberately limited in scale to reduce bulk and maintain an appropriate streetscape response. The Development Application included detailed planning justification and shadow analysis to support a minor building-envelope encroachment while demonstrating that neighbouring solar access and privacy would be maintained.
The residence, secondary dwelling, pool and outdoor entertaining areas were planned as an integrated response to the narrow block, slope and the owners' substantial accommodation and storage requirements.
PROJECT OUTCOME
Wheeler Heights House demonstrates how a difficult narrow and sloping residential site can be used to create a substantial custom home without compromising practical family living. The completed residence incorporates extensive living and entertaining areas, a six-car basement garage and a self-contained two-bedroom secondary dwelling within a carefully planned site response.
The project progressed through Council Development Application approval and Construction Certificate documentation, resolving the site's slope, vehicle access, privacy and planning constraints within a cohesive contemporary design.
The completed home was later marketed and sold with the real estate listing specifically crediting Distinct Innovations as the building designer stating: