Location
Sydney, Australia
Sector
Residential
Project
Architecture, interior design
Tucked into a quiet hillside of Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Vista Row is a study in inward-facing elegance.
Originally the most challenging of three subdivided sites, this residence forgoes iconic city views in favor of creating its own architectural identity. Instead of reaching outward, it turns its gaze inward—transforming limited outlooks into a serene composition of light, form, and texture.
The residence opens with a solid brick base and a recessed double-height entry courtyard.
This layered entry sequence sets the tone for the home’s spatial experience. Sheltered, composed, and confident. Once inside, the warmth of natural materials creates a gentle progression from space to space, harmonizing scale and inviting light.
At the heart of the home is the sunken courtyard and plunge pool, a reflective centerpiece that anchors the composition. Surrounded by openings on three sides, the water body acts as both a cooling device and a sculptural presence.
A strong cross-axial layout organizes the home into clear directional movement.
From the front courtyard through the foyer and into the rear pool garden, the axis becomes a meditative spine.
Vista Row offers a distinctive response to a constrained site. It celebrates containment rather than openness, shadow over panorama, and intimacy over spectacle
Once inside, the warmth of natural materials creates a gentle progression from space to space, harmonizing scale and inviting light.
Long, uninterrupted sightlines foster a sense of calm as spaces open and contract with deliberate rhythm. On one end, glazed views draw the eye outward. On the other, vertical apertures diffuse light inward.
The architectural language blends solidity and permeability.
The first-floor façade hides behind a finely detailed timber screen, offering privacy while allowing shifting daylight to animate the interiors. Materials shift tactfully from solid brick to soft oak, honed marble, and bronze, balancing textural depth with visual restraint.
Interior joinery plays a subtle supporting role, with recessed kitchen cabinetry, floating oak shelves, and bronze-detailed balustrades. The overall palette remains cohesive—earthy, luminous, and calm. Every surface is considered and every transition intuitive.
