Manly 09

A home of their own…

Most architects dream about designing their own home, allowing both creative freedom and a vehicle to test new ideas. For architects Carolyn Miles and her life and business partner, architect Mark Korgul, directors of Watershed Architects, the opportunity came relatively early after the practice was established in 2002. Located in Manly, it’s now one of several houses designed by the couple.

Although Miles and Korgul had worked on a number of homes together, this was their first completely new build from the ground up. This relatively narrow site, with a footprint of 9 by 40 metres in depth, had a sloping gradient on two sides. With a substantial two-storey home on its northern boundary, the decision was made from the outset to capture the southern district views and bring light through the core of the home.

Designed for a couple who then had three young children, the Manly house had to be sufficiently spacious for a growing family, but at the same time meet fairly tight budget requirements. There was also need for a low-maintenance dwelling, one that didn’t demand too much attention, for a busy professional couple running an architectural practice. Hence, the materials used are fairly robust and cost-effective – fibre cement cladding, Colorbond steel and concrete blockwork, expressed within the interiors. Inside, there are polished concrete floors and the generous use of timber, including tallowwood, blackbutt and Australian hardwoods. The timber not only provides a contrast to the exterior materials, but importantly, is used in areas close to the touch – such as hand rails, balustrades and built-in joinery.

While the house appears relatively modest from the street, with a single garage to one side, it conceals a two-storey structure. On the ground and top level (given the 3.5 metre slope of the site) are four bedrooms, including the main bedroom and ensuite. And at the lower level are the kitchen and dining areas, together with two living areas. Although these living areas enjoy unimpeded sight lines, they benefit from slight changes of level to clearly articulate each space. A dramatic split-faced concrete fireplace further defines spaces, as well as being a focal point during the colder months of the year. This fireplace, set into a void, adds character to the home, an element of surprise as well as being an important structural element.

Watershed Architects were keen to create a fairly relaxed home for their family, with louvred glass windows and protected timber-lined terraces that evoke a tropical feel, one that’s perfectly suited to Sydney’s often humid weather.