St Ives and St Ives Chase Architects
Building family homes that invite the outside in.
St Ives and St Ives Chase
The affluent suburbs of St Ives and St Ives Chase rub shoulders in Sydney’s Upper North Shore, alongside neighbouring areas such as Gordon and Turramurra. These leafy idylls share the same postcode and much of the same demographics.
Landscape plays a starring role in much of St Ives Chase and St Ives home design, thanks to an abundance of national parks, mature trees and established gardens in the area. Block sizes are typically larger here than in suburbs closer to the city, allowing families space to breathe and St Ives architects plenty to play with.
Ironbark Architecture’s approach to sustainable and bushfire-resilient design places it in a unique position in St Ives and St Ives Chase. We’ll take your vision and combine it with an in-depth understanding of design principles to create exquisite buildings that nestle gently in their natural surrounds.
We understand St Ives and St Ives Chase
The natural beauty of these adjoining suburbs is one reason architects love to work in St Ives.
Connections to national parks, nature reserves and even the stunning Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden provide ample opportunity for leafy outlooks and biophilic benefits. Those fortunate enough to build alongside natural reserves might also have the opportunity to take advantage of noise reduction, improved air quality, natural insulation and shade.
Blocks here are predominantly flat, and when making full use of the space there are seemingly endless design opportunities. These suburbs are also filled with great schools, making the area popular with families, and that means opportunities to flex our family-oriented design skills.
Given the large blocks, family-sized homes, great schools, loads of open spaces, attractive frontages and picturesque streets, it’s unsurprising it’s a tightly held area – and one that we love working in.
Because we’re St Ives and St Ives Chase architects we know:
That St Ives homes should connect to the natural beauty of the area
How to harness passive design principles such as insulation and shade from established trees
That native vegetation also brings bushfire risk and how to mitigate that through design
That local families want homes that reflect their lifestyles and interact with the outdoors
The design opportunities that come from designing homes on flat, large parcels of land
The importance of listening and collaborating with our clients
How teaming up with trusted tradespeople in the area produces the best results
The value of the mix of architectural styles in the area, and how clients can incorporate their individual tastes
How to navigate council approvals and neighbour notification processes, especially where views and outlooks may be impacted
Our work
The large sites, grand homes and leafy views of St Ives and St Ives Chase are a dream for architects. Our work here focuses on designing homes that connect with nature and invite the outside in.
Careful renovations bring in natural light and fresh air, while new builds emphasise passive design principles at the foundation level, such as building orientation.
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Ironbark Architecture would love to help take your vision for your St Ives home renovation or new build from your imagination to paper to place.
We start by working closely with you to gain a deep understanding into the way you use your home and how it can be tailored to best suit your needs. We also investigate the individual site – its advantages, drawbacks and opportunities – to create the best design possible that works in the environment.
St Ives and St Ives Chase boast a mix of architectural styles, including mid-century modern, contemporary and environmental modernism (a tip of the hat to Glenn Murcutt’s stunning Preston House). This presents a great opportunity to make your mark on the local scene and design in a way that suits your family, rather than imitating the dominant aesthetic.
Many family homes in the area were built throughout the 1960s and 1970s, while the 1980s saw the addition of townhouses and units. Many dwellings in the area are ripe for renovation, to improve dated designs and bring them in line with today’s lifestyles and modern aesthetic.
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St Ives and St Ives Chase are adored for their native vegetation and green landscapes but the leafy borders of these suburbs and the proximity of residential dwellings to extensive national parks brings the possibility of bushfires.
Fortunately, architects (alongside bushfire consultants) now have many ways to mitigate that risk for homeowners. Through smart material selection, attention to detail in design and an in-depth understanding of BAL (bushfire attack level) ratings and construction, we can offer better protection to you and your home.
Our team has spent many years honing our expertise and are skilled at designing for bushfire resilience, while striving to keep costs low and aesthetic beauty high.
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Passive design is a cause close to Ironbark’s heart. By designing smart, we can ensure the next generation of Aussie homes are receptive to the environment around them and better able to maximise energy efficiency.
St Ives and St Ives Chase provide many great opportunities to do that. Mature trees and established bushland not only afford fantastic views, but can give your home natural insulation and shading – reducing the need for air-con.
The picturesque beauty of many streets in the suburbs also means homeowners can opt for larger windows and open-air living, promoting natural airflow and optimising sunlight. High windows and skylights can capture the ever-changing angles of sunlight, as well as a slice of greenery whenever we can make it possible.
Large block sizes are also a treat for sustainable building because we can ensure the best building orientation for sustainability, as well as have the room to preserve vegetation.
Our team specialise in
Built on trust
“Stunning, sustainable designs from a company that is passionate, efficient, and accommodating—everything you could desire in an architect.”
- ADAM
We’ve also been featured in:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, we love the Upper North Shore and the many design opportunities in the area (plus we’re locals to this part of the world too). Whether you would like to start fresh with a new home build or tweak a home you love, we can help.
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There are so many. We love the natural landscape in the area and always design homes to interact with the individual features of the site. The large blocks, leafy views and access to major roads for ease of construction material delivery are all helpful bonuses.
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Talk to us – pick up the phone or fill in your details below to get the ball rolling. We would love to hear about your project and talk you through the design process. Make sure you check out some of our recent and current projects for inspiration.
Planning a project in St Ives or St Ives Chase?
Tell us about it or give Chris a call on 0416 130 246
Upper North Shore suburbs we service:
Asquith
Cherrybrook
Hornsby
St Ives
St Ives Chase
Thornleigh
Waitara
Warrawee