glenn murcutt's donaldson house enters the market in australia

australian architect glenn murcutt’s donaldson house located on the palm beach peninsula north of sydney, australia, has recently entered the market. the 715 m2 site is located on a steeply-sloped property immersed in native bushland and walking distance to the beach, enjoying a balanced mix of land and ocean. the four bedroom, two bathroom house maintains a low profile on site almost invisible from street level due to the drastic slope. at street level, an open-air driveway provides parking for two cars while a modest enclosure with wooden door serves as the entrance to the home. upon entering, a series of suspended concrete stairs lead down the initial descent of the topography into the top level of the house.

image © anthony browell (also first image)
all images courtesy of modern house 

the entry stairs sink below the street level to the upper floor of the home
image © anthony browell (also first image)

the upper entrance level contains the master suite and bathroom as well as the kitchen, living and dining rooms that extend into a partially covered veranda. the served spaces are oriented to the north side of the linear home taking advantage of the natural sunlight while the servant spaces are delegated to the south. on the floor below, three bedrooms, bathroom, and laundry room provide a more private ambiance nestled deep within the brush. 

the roof continues the elevation of an existing boulder maintaining a low profile on the site
image © anthony browell

located in a high fire-risk area, donaldson house is designed and built to strict regulations, with strengthened glass, black weathered zinc, and a steel roof. the low maintenance materials also prove an important factor in holding up to what can be harsh winds from the ocean and further inland. energy efficiency is a priority in the design as well, with overhangs and carefully placed operable windows providing shading and cross ventilation that eliminate the need for an air conditioning unit. solar panels covering the roof provide almost all of the home’s electrical needs while a water collection system recycles grey water throughout.

the specific surface structure of the walls and ceiling was developed through extensive material research
image © anthony browell

the highly dense and extremely heavy engineered gypsum fiberboard panels reflect sound
image © anthony browell

after nine and a half years of construction, the project is finally nearing completion
image © anthony browell

the kitchen, dining and living areas are situated on the upper floor enjoying the best views
image © anthony browell

the lower bedrooms are closesly tied to the site, immersed in the topographical features
image © anthony browell

image © anthony browell

image © anthony browell

rain gutter detail- a thin mesh keeps debris out of the gutters
image © anthony browell

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project info:

name: donaldson house
architect: glenn murcutt
completed: 2016
design architect: glenn murcutt ao
engineer: james taylor & associates
builder: craig poppleton
location: nsw, australia
scope: 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car
photography: anthony browell