Conceptual Framework: The house is devised as the juxtaposition of two skins pulling apart and pressing together. The outer skin, 300mm thick, rammed concrete has been sculpted and subtracted. The other, framed, timber clad and painted black, fits loosely inside the concrete walls, moving forward and backward to create interstitial spaces between the two, and sometimes pushing out from behind to address the garden or the street. Public /Cultural Benefits: The house contributes positively to the suburban streetscape. Relationship of Built Form to Context: The project is a family home in suburban Mosman Park. Located close to the river, the block has an elevated outlook to the south/west. The north aspect borrows views of established trees on the surrounding properties. Program Resolution: The house uses a split level plan, changing from two stories at the street to single storey at the rear, so that the two storey bedroom wing is only half a flight up or down from the main living areas. The main entrance level was determined by an existing fig tree. Inside the entry is a walk-in storeroom for school bags etc. and a study. The study, also intended to function as a guest room, looks into a courtyard and has a sense of quiet seclusion. The kitchen is strategically situated so that from there one can see the front door, kids in the pool, monitor kids in the second living room or in the study and easily access the dinning areas. The living rooms are large volumes orientated to the north garden

and pool areas. The children's living space is slightly apart from the main living room, allowing groups of kids and adults their own space for socialising, yet maintaining the opportunity for interaction when desired. The 20m lap pool sits within the side setback on the east, and the wider part, which provides for recreational swimming, fills out the set back of the outdoor deck so that the house and pool fit together like two puzzle pieces. Integration of Allied Disciplines: The material characteristics of the rammed recycled concrete required structural consideration early in the design process. Cost /Value Outcome: The project was designed to a budget based on 300m2 house. The owners carried out some of the works themselves for cost effectiveness. The design response was to use robust, easy to work with materials, utilising the owners' contacts in the building industry. Sustainability: Rainwater tanks provide water for the laundry, toilets and pool. A greywater recycling system to the laundry feeds the reticulation for the front garden. Cross ventilation is achieved via the courtyards and orientation of windows. Large areas of glass are shaded by a sail shade to the north deck. The house is wired for solar energy for future solar panels to the roof. Response to Client /User Needs: The clients wanted a robust family home to accommodate growing teenage children, with a desire to give the kids a measure of independence while continuing to nurture daily family interactions.