Project Reference

AH01 Allambie House -
Where the Kookaburras Rest

Close

AH01
Allambie House - Where the Kooburras Rest
Allambie Heights, NSW, Australia
In collaboration with Ozaki Studio
4 Bedroom House
Photography: Hamish Mc Intosh

Awards

2026 Houses Awards, Houses over 200 sqm, Shortlisted

Situated on the delicate threshold between Gayamaygal bushland and the suburban fringe, this family residence is composed of two simple, offset volumes. The design balances enclosure and expansion, featuring a private entry courtyard and a generous rear terrace that projects into the canopy. This primary outdoor space is oriented toward expansive district views, capturing the sunset through mature eucalyptus trees frequented by local kookaburras.

The program is organised across three levels, articulated by a central staircase and a light-filled void. While the ground floor and partially subterranean basement serve as the active heart for family life and entertaining, the upper level is reserved as a secluded sanctuary for rest. Internally, the home offers a constant visual connection to the wilderness while maintaining a sense of thermal comfort and refuge against the elements.

A tactile palette of locally sourced warm brick and charred timber creates a seamless transition from the exterior to the interior, achieving a sense of “the outside, within”. As these materials weather and the surrounding landscape matures, the architecture is designed to recede into its environment—a quiet, enduring presence between the bush and the street.