727 HQ Fitout | EJE

727 HQ Fitout is a bespoke two-level office fitout within Newcastle’s newest commercial high-rise building. Enjoying 360-degree views from Newcastle Harbour to the Hunter Hinterland, the fitout is a response to the land and sea that it overlooks, providing a functional workplace for over 200 staff.

New Castle | Anthony St John Parsons

Quietly nestled in the foothills of southern Merewether, New Castle manifests a subtle grandeur that is both ambitious and refined. Romantically envisioned as an invisible garden of paradise, the residence’s design is entirely encompassed within a walled garden, creating a sub rosa sanctuary for its inhabitants. A thick limestone wall begins at one corner at hip height and rises to nearly two stories at the opposite corner, with a few thoughtfully placed openings offering intriguing glimpses of inside, which include a cluster of Cabbage tree palms and a mature evergreen Magnolia Grandiflora.

Inside the garden wall, the rooms of the house snake around, forming more hidden pockets of outdoor space. This procession of rooms, all a single room wide, allows for multiple perspectives and interactions with the gardens, while inviting light and ventilation into every corner.

New Castle is a once-in-a-career project, showcasing ambition, love, and tenacity in every detail.

Speers Point House | OVDA Studio

A new home for a family of four in Speers Point NSW. Enveloped and protected by Munibung Hill to the east, the gabled pavilions of this home step down to follow the topography of the steep site. This climatically responsive home provides a prospect and refuge – it feels private and calm, but it also engages with the vast surrounding landscape beyond from its high elevation.

Throsby House | Curious Practice

Throsby House is a reinterpretation of the original cottages which define the neighbourhood’s built character with exaggerated weatherboards stacked into a familiar but novel stratum on the site for a young family of four. In comparison to the existing cottages however, this project reappraises its connection to place and ground: negotiating a dramatic change of level on the site to ground the living spaces in garden and the landscape of Throsby Creek beyond.

Mangrove Creek Dam Visitors Centre | Slater Architects

The original Mangrove Creek facilities were lost in the Three Mile Fire in 2019. Central Coast Council reached out to Slater Architects with a brief was to redesign and recreate the Mangrove Creek Dam Visitor Centre, incorporating a new interactive visitor education centre, accessible amenities, picnic shelters and a children’s play area.

The design encourages insight into the natural environment, cultural heritage and highlights important components of the Central Coast’s water supply system. The design of the visitor centre comprises of a feature butterfly roof that is angled in 2 directions to embrace the views and orientation towards the dam.

Materials have been selected to reflect the natural environment and provide longevity and include natural finishes such as rammed earth, polished concrete, plywood, timber look screens, black steel and framing. The amenities building and picnic shelters have been designed with a similar aesthetic to provide a cohesive built form.

Coal Seam House | Pieter Henry

Seams of jet black coal ripple through the grey, white and earthy ochre sandstone that line the foreshore of Lake Macquarie — providing a glimpse into the areas industrial past as well as lending its colour palette.

Lake Macquarie fans out in a wide panorama of deep turquoise blue bordered on the horizon by the green hills of the Yengo National Park.

The westerly position is also open to searing hot summer winds that combine with a marine glare to create a powerful reminder of the strength of the Australian elements.

These elemental forces informed the design and materials used for the SeamsHouse, with local sandstone, natural hardwoods and black aluminium incorporated to create a home firmly planted with a profound sense of place. The Belmont House’s innovative design serves to provide calm and enjoyment in all elements while effortlessly enduring the challenges of its unique positioning.

Killcare Heights Escarpment House | Matt Thitchener Architect

The Killcare Heights Escarpment House replaces an aged holiday home, seamlessly integrating coastal living with durability and environmental sensitivity.

Positioned on the edge of a rock escarpment on an elevated site, it balances simplicity and resilience, welcoming sandy feet and capturing panoramic views.

The design is modern yet respectful of neighbouring homes and is softened by raw, textured materials and native landscaping throughout.

Mindful of sustainability, the all-electric home utilizes energy efficient glazing, natural ventilation, ample thermal mass, substantial solar and rainwater harvesting, and a battery bank w EV charging.

Simple pavilion forms allow ocean views throughout, break down building bulk & ensure light & ventilation permeate deep into the interior. Clever integration of disciplines hides services, structure, and addresses bushfire protection seamlessly.

The blackened entry provides a precursor to the spectacular views celebrated throughout the home, embodying a visually stunning and sustainable coastal retreat.

Stockton Link House | Sarah Truscott Architect

Stockton Link House is a considered interface of history and modern design. Stockton has a rich history, evolving from being a refuge for shipwrecked convicts into a vibrant working-class community. The design of Stockton Link House honours this heritage, preserving the original worker’s cottage and integrating it with a contemporary extension.

Key design features include an honesty in materials and construction approach aligned with the budget, with nods to the owner’s unique style. The central breezeway provides passive cooling, addressing the challenge of the site’s alignment and proximity to neighbouring residences. The renovation replaced decaying materials and addressed spatial deficiencies, creating a comfortable, single-level layout for ageing in place. There are vibrant orange accents throughout and new openings were strategically placed for breezes and light.

Stockton Link House exemplifies how architecture can blend past with present, meet tight budget constraints, and enrich the cultural fabric of a community.

Vista House | Slater Architects

Presenting as a single storey building from the street, the building has been designed with multiple levels in response to the steep typography and in order to provide uncompromising views over Avoca Beach.

Of paramount importance was the creation of a building that framed the views and opportunities the site offered and balancing this with a cutting edge built form that would be timeless. The client wanted spaces for their family to enjoy the beachside locality.

The natural palette of materials combining stone and timber look cladding with off-form concrete and standing seam echo the surrounding coastal location and have been designed with longevity and minimal maintenance in mind. A feature glass lift and cantilevered staircase provide vertical cohesion between the various levels. The external finishes are seamlessly integrated with the interiors combining polished concrete floors, stone and timber finishes, resulting in a fusion of interior and exterior living.