Tolmans Hill House

Continuing investigations within the practice into paths and lines within the landscape led to the consideration of the house as a materialisation of a journey from the city up to the site.  The journey is characterised by winding movements as the contours steepen, until finally one arrives at the site where one can traverse up to an entry before winding back around to run along the contour in an elevated position. This path provided an armature around which the house itself is formed and is underlined by a key wall running the length of the house. Behind this wall, service spaces are located as “poche” elements that, combined, create a major thickening to the rear wall of the house in contrast to the thin razor-sharp line of the wall to the view.

The front of this cranked form is clad in slate grey metal decking to completely disappear into the bush, while the rear of the house and courtyard is anchored by a masonry base. The front elevation is embellished by a series of metal “sticks” that recall the silver trunks of the adjacent trees and provides an abstract identity for the dwelling from the approach.  Between these two surfaces, the house interior opens out gradually as one approaches the main living spaces that are presented will the full expanse of the view to the city below.