Woodford Bay House

The site is a steeply westward sloping battle axe water-front site on Woodford Bay, Northwood on the Lane Cove River. It has serene views of the Lane Cove River framed by Morton Bay Fig and Cheese trees. Upon entry at the mezzanine level, the butterfly ceiling immediately draws the eye towards the water view and then to the trees and sky as it flips up when the occupant moves down and out towards the main deck.

With an 11m fall over the 18m footprint of the house, many stairs were inevitable so the stair became a sculptural feature of the project. Despite the number of stairs, the house feels like 2 levels not 4.

The soring butterfly ceiling, the eye-leading stair and carefully placed wall openings all contribute to a feeling that; even though inside, one could be standing in the previous garden lot letting one’s eyes trace-up tree trunks and find gaps in the tree canopy above.

The site is a steeply westward sloping battle axe water-front site on Woodford Bay, Northwood on the Lane Cove River. It has serene views of the Lane Cove River framed by Morton Bay Fig and Cheese trees. Upon entry at the mezzanine level, the butterfly ceiling immediately draws the eye towards the water view and then to the trees and sky as it flips up when the occupant moves down and out towards the main deck.

With an 11m fall over the 18m footprint of the house, many stairs were inevitable so the stair became a sculptural feature of the project. Despite the number of stairs, the house feels like 2 levels not 4.

The soring butterfly ceiling, the eye-leading stair and carefully placed wall openings all contribute to a feeling that; even though inside, one could be standing in the previous garden lot letting one’s eyes trace-up tree trunks and find gaps in the tree canopy above.
View from the entry mezzanine
The exposed rafters draw the eye into the house, then the view draws the eye further. The batten side panels give a hint of what is beyond when the door is closed but also act as a ventilated security grille.
The entry level is beyond. Carefully placed openings in the walls connect with the tree canopy and sky.
The translucent splash back affords southern light. A casement window at the western end offers a vignette of the river from the kitchen sink whilst screening the neighbour.
The open risers allow light to penetrate further into the house.
Th eye traces the balustrade and handrail down from one floor to the next and back up again.
The house feels far more spacious than its modest floor plan would suggest and far more connected with the outside than a house which is 3-4 levels above the ground.
The sinuous stair winds up through the house playfully enticing the eye to explore the space above and below the living level.
Bay windows provided a desk alcove in the children's bedrooms. Splaying them afforded water vistas from the other two children's rooms which were not able to have the direct view.
View lines were carefully considered to provide maximum view of the Lane Cove River and to take in the treetops and northern sun whilst simultaneously restricting sight-lines to neighbouring houses.
This bathroom sits into the hill but natural light and a view to sky is still available via the light shaft. The shaft tiles were chosen to refract the light.
Date: 2009-2011
Location: Northwood, NSW
Design Architects: Michael MacCormick & Joanna Barlow
Project Architects: Michael MacCormick, Thalia Deady, Joanna Barlow
Structural Consultant: Waddington consulting
Builder: F.S.Hough P/L
Interiors:Joanna Barlow & clients, Michael MacCormick
Photography: Huw Lambert