TZG architects tops almora house with undulating concrete in australia

on a site close to balmoral beach in australia, tonkin zulaikha greer (TZG) architects has realized a new residence that displays the plasticity of concrete. built within the garden of the client’s existing property, almora house is designed not only to create an aesthetically beautiful home, but also to maximize the building’s longevity and sustainability.

all images by brett boardman

the layout of the house is organized along a central circulation spine. on the first floor level, this serves to divide the social areas on one side, and the services and private spaces on the other. a large void in the center of the house provides a loft spatial experience while also establishing visual connection throughout the two levels. the second floor is reserved for more private bedroom spaces.

considering its lush garden site, the building is designed by the architect to protrude and extend into the immediate landscape in the form of outdoor courtyards. in addition to providing outdoor living spaces, this element of the architecture also functions to bring more light into the interior, which was a desire of the client as the site is bordered by nine other houses.

to achieve a building with a long lifespan, the tonkin zulaikha greer architects has carefully selected materials and building systems to optimize energy performance. with this in mind, the structure utilizes generous slabs and curves of in-situ concrete with timber and glass infill. this application of concrete has come to characterize the house, especially the undulating concrete ceilings on the second floor, which give the monolithic volume a sculptural and tactile feeling.

in contrast to the grey concrete, warm, stained timber is applied on both the exterior and interior finishes. tracing and outlining the forms of the concrete, the wood offers a more natural and human counterpoint to the concrete shell of the house.