Watsons Bay House

Watsons Bay, NSW
2023

Located within the Watsons Bay Heritage Conservation Area, this new 3 level house adopts a traditional gable roof form, with front verandah, weatherboard cladding and metal roofing in accordance with the development controls. The site falls from front to back, allowing a semi-basement level to address the rear yard, while an attic storey within the pitched roof accommodates the two bedrooms and glass roofed bathroom.

Living spaces on the middle level open fully to the verandah and front yard and at the rear to an elevated balcony, with significant views into the tree tops of Camp Cove Reserve. The requirement for a flood protection barrier to the front of the site, with living areas to be elevated above the anticipated flood level, introduced a 450mm high terrazzo plinth enclosing the front yard and providing a stepped threshold to the house, which affords casual seating under the front verandah.

While adopting a traditional building form, the house is in all other ways a contemporary interpretation of the cottages of the original fishing village, with greater connection between inside and out and access to significant views of the national park at the front and public reserve at the rear.

Builder: Bright Build
Photographer: Clinton Weaver
Stylist: Tess Strelein