Anthony Gill Architects has masterfully crafted Clifton House, an intimate yet airy residence set within Sydney's bustling North Bondi neighbourhood.
Replacing an old bungalow near a busy intersection, the project elegantly transforms a challenging, overlooked site into a private haven through the strategic interplay of architecture, gardens, and inventive material use.
Central to the design philosophy was the creation of lush, staggered gardens that serve both aesthetic and practical purposes. Dense foliage, alongside strategically placed fibreglass screens, gently obscures views from neighbouring properties, creating a sense of seclusion and tranquility within the home. This green veil provides each room with tailored privacy and distinct environmental conditions, allowing occupants to experience unique interactions with the outdoors.
Internally, Clifton House surprises with a nuanced dialogue between robust materials and delicate natural elements. Lime-rendered walls sealed with wax enhance the earthy sensibility, while repurposed timber from the original bungalow—used prominently in internal doors and the kitchen island—echoes the project's sustainable ethos. The interiors subtly harmonize with the garden spaces, drawing ventilation and natural light deep into the floor plan.
On the upper level, bedrooms and bathrooms seamlessly extend into roof gardens enclosed by sloping fibreglass sheets, creating an ethereal, "otherworldly" ambiance. Open triangles at each screen's end, safeguarded by stainless-steel mesh, cleverly eliminate traditional balustrades, emphasizing Gill’s meticulous approach to detail and spatial innovation.
Clifton House not only addresses the practicalities of urban living but also poetically explores the boundaries between public and private space. Through thoughtful materiality, inventive reuse, and lush landscaping, Anthony Gill Architects successfully crafts a domestic sanctuary, quietly shielded from the busy surroundings of North Bondi.
