Waterdragon Cottage

By Alexander Symes Architect

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Waterdragon Cottage is nestled between the ocean and the Illawarra escarpment in Coledale, south of Sydney. The site was home to a much-loved weatherboard cottage that was slowly being overshadowed as the neighbourhood is developed. The design approach was to retain the existing cottage and to utilise the dramatic slope of the land to create a stepped addition to the rear that would capitalise on the magnificent ocean views and connect the living spaces of the house to the garden.

The rear addition is a single storey volume creating a kitchen and dining space that is generously connected with the garden and stepping up to an ocean-facing deck. The slope of the land is such that the point of connection between the new and the old house is a dynamic double-height space that becomes the heart of this family home. As you move through the private bedroom spaces of the old house into the communal living spaces upstairs, a sequence of light-filled beautifully crafted spaces is revealed.

Project Team

Alex Symes

Katja Gavran

Branko Jaric

Imogene Tudor

Builder

John Arnold Constructions and Souter Built

Consultants

Detom Engineering

Photography

Barton Taylor Photography

Council

Wollongong City Council

Waterdragon Cottage
Waterdragon Cottage
Waterdragon Cottage
Waterdragon Cottage
Waterdragon Cottage
Waterdragon Cottage
Waterdragon Cottage
Waterdragon Cottage
Waterdragon Cottage

Professionals used in
Waterdragon Cottage

Alexander Symes Architect
Alexander Symes Architect
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About the
Professional

Alexander Symes Architect was founded in 2014 with a mission to advance sustainable architecture. The world’s climate is changing and we believe that architecture must lead the way in changing how we utilise resources to contribute to a sustainable future.

This vision for sustainable architecture is layered through all aspects of our practice and through all the stages of a project. This starts with the examination of a project brief to ensure the grounding principles of a project support a sustainable way of life. As the project takes shape, Alex deploys his depth of technical expertise to realise the project to its full potential.

Alex’s technical expertise in building physics and facade system design is built on the experience he gained working in Arup’s Building Physics and Facade Engineer teams from 2010-2014. He has hands-on experience with construction and design for manufacturing assembly (DFMA) and a passion for how buildings are put together.

Alex has specialist training in the design and delivery of passive houses which we believe offer a pathway towards exceptionally comfortable and healthy homes. Alex loves collaborating with like-minded individuals and testing the boundaries of how we can challenge the status quo to advance sustainable architecture.