However, for the immediate neighbours to the east and west, Tribe Studio was mindful of creating a more “cliff-like” edge to minimise overlooking backyards. “It’s a dense part of Sydney and there’s the inevitability of some overlooking, but with the appropriate angles, these can be minimised,” says Tribe.

The Bronte house is spread over three levels, with the first accessed via a sandstone wall above the street that leads to concrete bleacher steps to the front door. Below this level are the two bedrooms for the older children, with bathrooms and a separate study. They also have their own entrance.

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The first floor is given over to the main living areas, including the living, dining and kitchen areas on the same gradient as the irregular-shaped swimming pool and garden, designed by landscape architect Dangar Barin Smith.

Given the brief to create an indoor/outdoor feel, the materials used on the exterior partially flow through to the interior – exposed sand-coloured brick walls, concrete ceilings and a polished concrete floor, together with spotted gum timber for the battened walls/screen, kitchen joinery and the scalloped seats that appear to be “carved” into the solid brick walls.

On the top level is the main bedroom suite, including an ensuite and a walk-in dressing area at one end, and the younger child’s bedroom, separated by a bridge, at the other. There’s also a meditation room at this level.

The top two levels are connected to a leaf-shaped column that suspends the ‘floating’ timber stairs. Its chamfered edges could be likened to a “billowing sail” but is also pragmatic as well as poetic, directing sight lines and reducing the impact of a neighbouring home. “In this area, it’s ‘jowl-by-jowl’,” says Tribe.

One of the most challenging aspects of this project, apart from the need for privacy, was locating the garage – also used as a gymnasium – at the crest of the site and accessed by a secondary road. An engineering feat in its own right, this multi-level structure, with its own hit-and-miss brick skin, also benefits from an impressive view – one of Sydney’s finest.

Although the Bronte house appears to be ‘carved’ in stone or, more correctly, brick, it’s surprisingly light from within – bringing in views and light where appropriate and creating subtle screens where required most, such as in a study that allows for a visual connection to the living areas below. “The house has a slight monastic feel, but it’s really designed for a family who want a more casual approach to living – allowing for sand to be brought into the house as much as opening up the home to enjoy the afternoon breeze,” adds Tribe.

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