Iron Maiden House

Iron Maiden House was designed for a family of five who wanted a home which celebrated the Sydney climate. The design delivers generous living and entertaining areas which flow to outdoor areas at ground level, while an elevated external corridor connects the children’s bedrooms which have outlook onto green spaces. Iron Maiden House is located in Longueville and enjoys views of the Lane Cove River and the Sydney CBD. The home is consistent with the immediate neighbours in term of setback and height. However, the distinctive cladding is a nod to the iconic Australian vernacular material, while the form is a modern re-interpretation of the gable houses typical of the area, which simultaneously maximises the views from the site. Overall, the design provides a public presence while preserving privacy on an exposed site. The home was designed to provide the occupants with a sense of time over days, seasons and years. On a daily level, solar access underpins the planning and orientation of the living spaces, while the flowering of the vines along the exterior and living green corridor provides seasonal nuance. As the years pass, the vines will gradually start to engulf the building. The corrugated iron cladding was chosen as a material that will age gracefully over decades, dulling in colour and eventually individual sheets will develop a rusted edge. Conceptually, the privacy and beauty of a natural gorge, in which water cuts through rock to form secluded spaces was mixed with a modern reinterpretation of a typical gable house found in Longueville to generate the final form. The simple shape was extruded lengthways along the site and sliced down the middle with a pond to form a central axis. Slender, cathedral like spaces were formed around this central thoroughfare with ponds running parallel to walkways to link the spaces. Key aspects of the clients’ brief was for a home that had a strong relationship to nature and space to entertain and grow with the family. The elongated form was designed to maximise links to the outdoors by directing all openings inwards to the central pool and outdoor space for the family to relax and enjoy, supplemented by the ability to open the house up to create flow between multiple indoor and outdoor spaces when entertaining. The decision to create a separate bedroom wing enables the children to build their independence while enjoying private green space for years to come. CplusC was responsible for both the design and construction of Iron Maiden House. As we know, what appears simple is often very complex. On the front façade, an oversized, irregular glass window meets steel framing and a roof sloping in two directions. This highly technical achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration of the site foreman, the glazier, the steel fabricators and the engineer. With no room for error, they ensured that the junction is not only watertight but aesthetically pleasing. The landscape design by Bell Landscapes added a layer of knowledge and expertise we couldn’t have done alone. The home was designed to elevate everyday activities. A large window located next to the spiral stair encourages the occupants to pause and enjoy the view while moving through the space, this is further encouraged by the generous stair treads which meet nearby walls to form a place to sit. Feelings of connection and privacy are created by locating the kitchen at the nexus of indoor and outdoor spaces. Each room has a view through green space into different parts of the house. The sophisticated use of levels within the home creates distinct yet akin living spaces.