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The house is unlike any other in the quiet cul-de-sac situated off Brighton's prestigious golden mile. Frank Macchia's approach deviates sharply from the 70's brick veneer mock colonial and neo-georgian residences that characterise the streetscape.
The 651 sq mtr block is average sized for this established beachside suburb . The existing house was demolished and the site cleared. The flat and square block gave Frank the width to compose his symphony of elements visible from the street.
An intense urban rythmn is implied in the dense volumetric arrangement along ground level, which subverts the urban sprawl of surrounding homes.The cubed forms (each expressed in a different material) define distinctive zones in the house. The block geometry is offset by a flourish of curved forms above. A ribbon wall, which signals the point of arrival at the juncture of pavement and property is a device that both connects and divides in its diagonal sweep through the site.
The footprint of the house extends the full width and length of the block.A high wall installed around 3.5 sides of the house acts as a part of the building envelope as well as shieldng the house from neighbours. The sides of the boundary walls form an enclosure and extension of the house. Built almost entirely of concrete the solidity of this house is uncompromising.
Rather than use courtyards frank has explored the use of watergardens, which create a water perimeter for the house which is an island in their midst. Certain zones remain distinct to eliminate the spillover from offcie into home lifeand vice versa. The resolution was the visual, physical and spirritual seperation of living areas away from office areas. Tonality and texture also reinforce the seperation between zones.
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