North Bondi House

2022 National Architecture Awards: Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations & Additions) – Shortlist

North Bondi House | Anthony Gill Architects

Traditional Land Owners: the Bidjigal and Gadigal people of the Eora nation

This project involved the modest re-working of an unusual single level semi-detached house in North Bondi to create a small, carefully planned and efficient home with an abundant garden and a strong connection to the street.

Overlapping room uses ensure a density of program throughout the house that challenges traditional conventions and adds significantly to the richness of the living experience. Ideas about privacy are also challenged as rooms open directly to the street with original solid barriers replaced by dense planting positively impacting the neighbourhood.

Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?

As client and architect, building our own house provided an opportunity to reflect our own values and attitudes to living. This results in a house that challenges prevailing attitudes to privacy and planning (the lounge room, laundry and bath combination seems particularly polarising) while providing a rich back drop for family life. Living in such close proximity to the street has also enabled many lasting community connections (including much feedback on the architecture) and the garden has become a local obsession.