Stewart House

The Stewart House, designed by Chenchow Little Architects and published on 12 April 2013, is situated on the west side of a ridge above Whale Beach, Sydney. The residence presents an orthogonal design, complemented by a splayed wall and stair that guides visitors into the entry hall and subsequently into the house. Upon entering, the transition from the bright sunlight to the cool, subdued lighting of the hallway offers a sense of relief and a positive shift in atmosphere, aligning with the primary purpose of a holiday home. The house's geometry becomes apparent beyond the front door, with masonry walls defining the north and south boundaries, providing structural support for broad steel beams that span the entire width of the building. This layered structure establishes the house's sectional composition, acting as a framework for the living spaces and the surrounding views. Two self-contained guest suites, each with a private courtyard and bathroom, flank the central hall. The hall gently slopes down, leading to the main living area at the building's end, where a rear terrace frames the vivid blue sky and the green angophora forest. The design incorporates deep 610-millimetre-deep steel beams and an overlay of purlins and ceiling boards, reflecting an architectural language reminiscent of mid-twentieth-century modern American homes, particularly some of the Los Angeles Case Study Houses. The client's initial brief included references to works by Richard Neutra and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, alongside an appreciation for Chenchow Little Architects' Mason House from 2000. Jørn Utzon’s houses in Mallorca also influenced early design discussions, evident in the terrace's formation. Functionally, the deep structural elements of the roof also discreetly house retractable fire shutters, a crucial safety feature given the house's location within a flame zone. These necessary protection requirements, often visually dominant in other constructions, are seamlessly integrated and go unnoticed until deployment. The client's desire for a white house led to the selection of a white dry-pressed brick as the primary material for the walls. To counteract the potential monotony of extensive white brickwork, the architects introduced layered bands of ten bricks high, interspersed with strips of butter-coloured fifty-millimetre bricks. Furthermore, walls around the courtyards and terrace feature a “hit and miss” pattern, allowing indirect light filtration and providing a masonry lattice for future plant growth. This varied textural and colour treatment imparts a depth to the walls not achievable with a simple applied surface. Inside, travertine floors complement the articulated brickwork, contributing a calming effect throughout the house. Externally, a white brick plinth, featuring a pool and sun deck, extends beyond the western edge of the terrace. Squint bricks define the plinth's sharp top edge, creating the impression of a carved masonry container rather than a simple block. This element helps to integrate the vista into the house, underlining the view and grounding the structure within its landscape, emphasizing that the house is an integral part of its natural setting, adapting to the land's contours. The Stewart House ultimately achieves a sophisticated, inviting, and articulate presence, successfully navigating the complexities often associated with white house designs. #ResidentialArchitecture #Modernism #WhiteBrick #BushfireProtection #WhaleBeach #ChenchowLittleArchitects #MidCenturyModern #ArchitecturalDesign #CoastalLiving #ResidentialArchitecture #Modernism #WhiteBrick #BushfireProtection #WhaleBeach #ChenchowLittleArchitects #MidCenturyModern #ArchitecturalDesign #CoastalLiving

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