New South Wales
Set in the Historic village of Blackheath some 120 km’s west of Sydney and at an altitude of 1100 meters. The area was originally believed to be the summer corroboree meeting place for the peoples of the Darug, Gundungurra and Wiradjuri nations and lies amidst the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains Area. It is a unique cultural, natural and physical setting but at times a harsh one with exposure to extreme temperatures, wind, snow and bush fire.
The project consists of a free-standing studio and workplace for the clients, substantial alterations and additions to the existing house and finally the landscape and connecting infrastructure that ties the development together.
The whole ensemble retains the scale, form and spirit of the context of Blackheath while adding a layer of modernity and complexity to the way the site works and the buildings look, perform and operate as a home and workplace.
The new studio, house renovations and landscape setting provide us with discrete and private environments for our work as a designer, academic, artist and therapist. The consolidated and revitalised house is spacious, flexible and comfortable with considerably better environmental performance. Brought together by their simple and repeated forms and materiality, the building’s careful placement around the protective courtyard provides connection physically between the work and private domestic spaces and to the broader Blue Mountain context. The landscape elements and existing fruit trees complete the picture, creating in time private and protective garden spaces for social and private activities.
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
