Bushland residential architecture in Yowie Bay Sydney designed by Ironbark Architecture

Alcheringa

New home
Sustainable design
Bushfire design

A thoughtfully crafted bushland home.

Project overview

Architect Ironbark Architecture
Location Sydney, New South Wales
Type Residential
Photography Luke Butterfly

Site history and cultural context

Named for the creek that runs along the bottom of the property, where indigenous Australians once foraged for shellfish, evidence of their activities still visible in a registered aboriginal midden site on a lower section of the property.

Further uphill, this new home was placed in the same position as the old asbestos shack to remove the need for any clearing of vegetation on this beautiful bushland site and to ensure no disturbance occurs to the midden site.

Bushland entry garden pat in Sydney area by Ironbark Architecture

Spatial organisation

The design of the house comprises of two pavilions connected by an entry breezeway.

The Northern pavilion contains the living spaces and opens up to a North facing yard with sweeping views of the surrounding bushland.

The Southern wing contains the bedrooms and home office with focused views of the nearby redgums, the elevated office feeling a part of the canopy.

Bedroom with natural light and desk

Landscape and pool integration

The house sits atop of a sandstone outcrop and a new swimming pool has been built into the side of the rocky outcrop using experimental construction methodology to allow the sandstone to form the back edge of the pool.

Entry to the pool area is through a central courtyard over the edge of the rock outcrop evoking a sense of finding a watering hole in the wilderness.

Swimming pool integrated into sandstone landscape in Sydney area

Materials and architectural expression

The materials used reflect a tactile Australian aesthetic using Australian hardwoods, Colorbond steel and an expressed structural steel frame.

Glazed facade overlooking bushland at Alcheringa House residential architecture in Sydney

    • Two pavilion layout connected by an open breezeway creating a clear separation between living and private areas

    • North-facing living pavilion maximising daylight and bushland views

    • Bedrooms and home office positioned within the tree canopy

    • Central courtyard organising circulation between indoor and outdoor spaces

    • Swimming pool integrated into the sandstone outcrop

    • Structural steel frame construction

    • Exterior materials including Australian hardwoods and Colorbond steel

    • Pool structure integrated into natural sandstone formation

    • Construction designed to minimise disturbance to the existing bushland site

  • Architect Ironbark Architecture

    Lead architect Chris Freeburn

    Builder Owner/builder

    Photography Luke Butterfly

We'd love to chat to you about your project

Tell us about it or give Chris a call on 0416 130 246