luigi rosselli blends traditional detailing with contemporary sensitivity in sydney home

luigi rosselli blends traditional detailing with contemporary sensitivity in sydney home
image © edward birch

established in a growing suburb on sydney’s north shore, luigi rosselli architects has added to their diverse selection of residential projects with the design of the ‘balancing home’. rosselli’s response to the client’s brief was ‘to bring a suitcase of memories; familiar, traditional building forms that one feels comfortable with to provide a modern architecture that is reinforced by collective memory and is not unsettling.’ the resulting scheme features two wings topped with a traditional gable roofing which is superposed and crossed.

the bedroom wing appears to hang in the balance over the pool
image © edward birch

accommodating a young family, the bedrooms have been placed on the upper level – stretching east to west – cantilevering over the smaller living quarters. on the exterior, this structural characteristic has formed a covered porch over the entrance to the residence and a sheletered terrace by the pool. inside, the spaces exemplify a presence of traditional detailing with a contemporary sensitivity; illustrated by the vaulted ceilings and the polished concrete floors. overall, a comfortable ambiance is created where the spacious rooms are filled with natural light, decorated in a vibrant contrast of furnishings and finished with a strong pallet of colors. 

an ‘ox red’ paint was applied to the masonry base, a memory of the hearth color used in clay bricks
image © edward birch

the interiors envisioned by the office’s in-house interior designer are light-filled and spacious
image © justin alexander

robust trusses, raw concrete fireplace hearth and sliding steel partition are balanced by the soft furnishings
image © justin alexander

the entry to the residence
image © edward birch

dark oak treads and a fine classic steel balustrade provide a contrast against the white walls
image © edward birch

marble and granite define the kitchen where a classicon ‘pallas’ table designed by konstantin grcic sits at the center
image © edward birch

two fridges and a pantry are hidden behind the paneled doors
image © justin alexander

the master bedroom has exposed rafters and steel reinforced trusses
image © justin alexander

the bedrooms are kept cool by a combination of external shutters, cross ventilation and a large air gap in the roof
image © justin alexander

the master bedroom, which hovers over the front door, faces the sunrise and a distant ocean view
image © edward birch