Waterfront Palazzo Eleven Years On in Sydney, Australia by Luigi Rosselli Architects

Article source: Luigi Rosselli Architects

Like a good wine good houses age well, improving with the passing of the years.  When compared to the original photographs, taken by Richard Glover in 2004 http://luigirosselli.com/residential/coolong-road , the recent reshoot of this waterfront palazzo shows how the lush Will Danger designed garden has become part of the architecture and how gracefully the building has aged, all the finishes are still fresh and faultless.

The sandstone base, newly built in 2004 is today covered with bougainvillea. The retractable, column free canvas awning has withstood galeforce winds and constant use, Image Courtesy © Justin Alexander

• Architects: Luigi Rosselli Architects
• Project: Waterfront Palazzo Eleven Years On
  
• Location: Vaucluse NSW, Sydney, Australia
  
• Photography: Justin Alexander
  
• Landscape Architect: William Danger & Associates
• Builder: Alvaro Brothers Builders
• Structural Consultant: O’Hearn Consulting
• Joiner: VRD Detailed Joinery

Image Courtesy © Justin Alexander

In Italian, the word ‘palazzo’ describes a large family residence and we can certainly apply the appellation to this home and all its neighbours in this very affluent street.  Most feature quantity and little quality in their design, however the client’s brief was to do the opposite.  “Only the best” asserted the owner.  The house needed to be an elegant but neutral backdrop for an art collection and the views.  Residents have come and gone: a banker, a Hollywood star and a tech tycoon from China, but the bricks and mortar continue to stand the test of time. 

If a frangipani tree survived ten years in this saline environment it will outlast this infinity pool. A spa pool is concealed in the main swimming pool rectangle, avoiding the usual raised blob, Image Courtesy © Justin Alexander

In 2004, William Dangar crafted this tree lined drive. Taking inspiration from Paul Cezanne’s tree lined avenues painting, these Fiddly Figs form a perspective to the front door. Today the trees are taller and the stone softly aged, Image Courtesy © Justin Alexander

A massive door reveals a light filled stairwell. The timber treads cantilever from the stone portion of the stair, three vertical light boxes contain photographic artwork, Image Courtesy © Justin Alexander

Nature changed faster than this seat at the end of the kitchen family room. The neighbour cut down the tree, one Sunday morning. It had to be replaced by fast growing bamboo to provide a privacy screen, Image Courtesy © Justin Alexander

The skilled craftsmanship of VRD’s joinery has endured the intensive use of various residents, Image Courtesy © Justin Alexander

Paintings by John Firth-Smith, Roy Lichtenstein and many other brilliant artists populate the house, Image Courtesy © Justin Alexander

Image Courtesy © Justin Alexander

Image Courtesy © Justin Alexander

Tags: Australia, Sydney

Category: Residential

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