Stainless steel, light-coloured terrazzo flooring, and joinery in a dark-stained timber establishes a high-contrast composition. Pictured: The kitchen features Zip HydroTap and tapware by Kohler, alongside Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances.
With filtered sightlines across Sydney Harbour and out towards the heads, Bellevue Hill House by Mathieson Architects thoughtfully unifies separate structures forming a single dwelling for multi-generational family living.
Design director Phillip Mathieson explains that the building “has had several lives”, originally configured as four smaller apartments. The transformation into a single residence required the introduction of a new stairwell to connect the interiors, alongside what Mathieson describes as “rationalising circulation, aligning levels and reshaping spaces so that the home felt cohesive”.
When the clients acquired the property, their intention was to retain as much of the existing building envelope as possible. Fortunately, the modern concrete structure introduced during an earlier renovation proved advantageous. As Mathieson notes, it “allowed us to remove a significant number of internal walls and reconsider the planning without major structural intervention”.
The multi-generational aspect of the home became more defined as the design moved forward. To enable the residence to operate at varying scales supporting day-to-day family living or larger gatherings, rooms that could be closed or open, along with a self-contained studio were added to the plan.
Achieving a bright, airy quality while maintaining privacy was central to the brief. “We introduced moments of depth and retreat in areas such as the kitchen, study and walk-in robe, where dark-stained timber finishes create a more intimate atmosphere,” Mathieson says. In the kitchen, drawer pulls in the same finish as the expressed stainless-steel countertops, and carefully detailed thresholds, provide a refined, purposeful, and functional space for a family who cook regularly. Opening out to a high contrast composition of a bright dining and lounge, boundary and blade walls shape a sequence of courtyards that feel protected extending the living areas without exposing them.
A Camerich Unity dining table off the kitchen is paired with Tacchini Pigreco chairs and a Trit House round bowl.
Pictured: Sculptures in the entry by Hugh McCarthy from M Contemporary Gallery and artwork by Marisa Purcell. Karakter 925 Scarpa lounge chair, Viabizzuno Roy Lettura floor lamp, Alias Seconda chair, rug from Whitecliff Imports, Camerich Epic sofa and Minotti Boteco coffee table.
A sunken lower courtyard at the rear of the property which previously received limited natural light making it underutilised and visually disconnected was addressed by the practice. Mathieson raised the lawn to align with the pool level, which “immediately improved light, usability and the sense of continuity across the ground plane.”
Rooftop views and elevated terraces inherited from the original structure are reworked and incorporated seamlessly into the new single dwelling. “The planning ensures that these moments are gradually experienced.” This was a key element of the redesign that transforms the way the home is experienced. “Moving vertically through the house becomes a progression from enclosed courtyard spaces to expansive outlooks, reinforcing both privacy and connection to place.”
Pictured: Alias Seconda chair.
A natural oak timber bathtub and integrated sinks introduce warmth and tactility. Pictured: Bedding by Cultiver, e15 Backenzahn stool, bedside DCW Editions La Lampe B.
Pictured: Serax Pawn side tables.
