Simplicity was key when designing this house for an experienced builder who planned to build the home himself for his own family. With a large flat site as blank canvas, a wraparound ribbon was created on the front elevation as a design statement. The ribbon is given dimension by coming up from the side of the house, between the two floors and acting as deck, wall and roof all at once.

On the side elevation, the first-floor family room is inserted into the large volume like a box within a box, with a covered deck allowing some privacy while still engaging with the adjacent public walkway to the east. The 400mm wide panels of James Hardie Stria in dark grey and white complement the scale of the house, while narrower, random width cedar cladding adds visual interest and warmth to the upper level.

The main living area utilises a double height volume and large stacked windows to create a sense of grandeur leading out onto the deck. An interior window in the bedroom and glass balustrade in the lounge extends the openness of the void into the first floor to take full advantage of the estuary beyond.