The arched concrete shrouds evolved as a method of structurally supporting the house with its own skin; designed to be understood as protective cloak rather than as signifiers of support. These shrouds provide the framework for how the spaces within the home relate to each other and to the external environment. From the first floor the context appears denied, however these more private bathing and sleeping spaces are pulled away from the ends of the solid skin which allows each elevated pavilion to look out through full height glazing onto their own private courtyards full of plants, sky and tree canopy.

At ground floor within the living, cooking and dining spaces the concrete shells provide clear connectivity with the entire landscape and a sense of unexpected lightness, while carefully concealing the neighbouring context. The ground floor living and lounge spaces in each pavilion are distinct from one another, yet they connect across the central north facing garden and courtyard. In contrast, the more private first floor sleeping spaces exist as their own elevated islands, the aspect of each being consciously framed around the three grand tree canopies of the site.

The rough sawn formwork boards were stripped from the outer concrete walls, cleaned and re-used as the fencing material of the house, so that the entire perimeter of the site is composed of the same textural language and character of the concrete pavilions. The project uses passive solar-design principles throughout. Glazing is offset from the outer concrete shells to provide a passive eave to the northern façade. This allows winter sun to flood into each living space, whilst shielding the strong summer heat load.

The house benefits from significant thermal mass in the concrete walls and the hydronically heated concrete floors which in winter also retain the warmth of the direct penetrating sunlight. High levels of cross ventilation help to keep the house naturally cool in the summer months. The elevated rooftop contains a solar pool heating system as well as a significant solar PV array. A defining element of this project is the balance of seemingly contradictory states that coexist within this home. It is at once civic and domestic, deeply enclosed while being intensely open, highly exposed while being effortlessly private, it is heavy yet also surprisingly light.

In defiance of its strong formal language, the spatial relationships and experiences of the home arise from a sensitivity to site and the human condition.