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224 Kooyong Road, Toorak is for sale.

One of Toorak’s finest mansions is up for sale by JB Hi-Fi boss Richard Murray and his partner Julie Blackwell.

Glyn, at 224 Kooyong Road, has been put on the market by the home electronics chief executive with a massive $14-$15.4m price guide.

Public records show the elaborate mansion is owned by the rich lister, who has been CEO of the major Australian chain since 2003.

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JB H-iFI CEO Richard Murray is selling the mansion. Picture: Aaron Francis

You can see why it has a $14-$15.4m price guide.

Marshall White Stonnington director Marcus Chiminello declined to comment on the vendors’ identity, but said the property “formed part of the tapestry of Toorak’s history and was one of the suburb’s most significant mansions”.

He said the owners had modernised certain sections of the 1908 home, originally built for politician and BHP founding shareholder Sir Edward Miller.

“They’ve made some really nice cosmetic enhancements to the house that allowed for modern living as well as keeping the history,” he said.

“They really brought a soul to the home, rather than being the rambling house it originally was.”

Traditional features still remain across living rooms in the home.

A grand old entrance foyer.

The Arts and Crafts mansion was built in 1908.

CoreLogic shows the couple bought the seven-bedroom Arts and Crafts mansion for $11m in 2016. Title records show lawyer Andrew Fairley was the previous owner of the property.

The sprawling 2420sq m block boasts a championship-sized tennis court and heated pool among established gardens.

Inside, a contemporary kitchen that includes a butler’s pantry is part of the modern living area.

Parts of the house are incredibly contemporary.

A huge kitchen with built-in dining area.

On the first floor, all the home’s bedrooms and their ensuites have also been updated. Extra luxe features include multiple studies, a gym, triple garage and modern security system.

Traditional details such as wood panelling and ceiling beams, chandeliers, fireplaces and leadlight windows still feature in the entrance foyer, formal living room, dining room and a billiards room.

There are multiple dining rooms.

Step back in time and play billiards.

Mr Chiminello said the vendors had a passion for “identifying great properties and further enhancing them”. This was one of their many projects in the past 20 years, and the couple were moving on to another opportunity, he said.

An expressions of interest campaign is set to close on September 7.

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Jarrard and Ruth Scott are selling their unit in Brookvale, a cheaper alternative to nearby suburbs. Picture: Tim Hunter

Sydney buyers priced out of their dream suburbs can save hundreds of thousands of dollars — even millions — by purchasing just one postcode over.

“Bridesmaid” suburbs emerged in recent years due to uneven growth in the housing market, with average prices in some suburbs up to $1.5m lower than in ”bride” suburbs, research shows.

Other areas have simply flown under the radar of buyers and tenants for an extended time and the lower demand has kept prices and rents well below those in more trendy locations nearby.

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Apartment hunters who have their sights set on Concord can save more than $561,000 by looking one suburb over to Homebush West.

And buyers looking to set up home in Cronulla could purchase a house in nearby Caringbah for up to $935,000 less.

Realestate.com.au data showed some of the biggest price discrepancies were on the northern beaches in suburbs Manly Vale, Dee Why and Brookvale.

Properties in Miranda, Lalor Park, Asquith, Tempe and North Ryde also offered better value than comparable houses in neighbouring suburbs.

“The factors that lead to the (price) gaps are things like beach access, housing is tight, block sizes and physical geography,” Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said.

Apartment prices and rents also tended to be cheaper in areas where there was more housing developments, she said.

“In some of these locations I would say they’re worth saving the money … you can enjoy some of the amenities that the blue-chip suburbs have,” Ms Conisbee said.

The data, which compares the median house prices of adjacent postcodes, shows homebuyers can snare a home in the semi-industrial suburb of Brookvale for about $1.32m, $424,000 cheaper than in neighbouring Dee Why and nearly half the median price in nearby Balgowlah Heights.

Local residents Jarrard Scott, 32, and wife Ruth, 29, said most people did not even know there were houses in Brookvale.

“Most people have no idea what it’s like once you get off the main road,” Mr Scott said.

“Many of the old warehouses and factories are being turned into restaurants and cafes and there are a lot of distilleries. It’s changing pretty fast.”

The couple are selling their unit in a building at 517 Pittwater Rd through McGrath-Manly’s Tim Cullen after buying a house in the suburb and said most other buyers competing against them were families wanting houses with yards.

MANLY SALE: this two-bedroom unit on Tower St is listed for $875,000.

MANLY VALE SALE: This two-bedroom unit on Lovett St in Manly Vale is $675,000.

“You’re still only five minutes’ from the beach and you’re near the biggest shopping mall (on the Northern Beaches), so it’s appealing,” Ms Scott said.

Further south, unit prices in Manly Vale had a median of $790,000 which was about $635,000 cheaper than in next door Manly, largely because of the further distance from the beach.

Ms Conisbee said some buyers would find the longer walk to the water from Manly Vale worth the significant price saving.

On the upper north shore, Asquith was considerably more affordable than surrounding suburbs, including Warrawee, where house prices were an average of $1.27m more expensive.

With a median house price of $1.02m, Asquith was also about $170,000 cheaper than in nearby Hornsby.

BELLA VISTA: this four-bedroom house on 33 Francesco Crescent is $1.6m-$1.65m.

LALOR PARK this four-bedder on Vardys Rd is selling for $770,000-$805,000.

North Ryde was an average of about $1.36m cheaper than neighbouring north shore suburb Lindfield, which tends to have older, larger homes.

Select Property’s Jeremy Sheppard, the developer of a price predictor system known as Location Score, said neighbour price gaps were often temporary.

“Buyers will move to the cheaper areas once it gets too expensive in one location. It’s a ripple effect,” Mr Sheppard said, adding the savings often made it worth losing a feature such as beach proximity.

“No single location can keep going up in price. Buyers eventually get priced out and they consider the cheaper alternatives.”

Jarrard and Ruth Scott said most people didn’t even realise their were houses in their suburb.

The most extreme savings were in suburbs near Sydney’s premium eastern suburbs.

Houses in Bondi Junction, for example, were an average of about $3m cheaper than in the more exclusive Bellevue Hill, where the average price was $5.6m.

Bondi houses were about $2.37m cheaper than Vaucluse houses. T

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Deanna Daminato and Michael Alves at Pane E Latte in Broadview. The couple recently bought a house in the area. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Why pay more for a property in your dream suburb when you can enjoy the same amenities and potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars by buying next door?

An analysis by realestate.com.au of Adelaide’s suburbs with the greatest variance in median price has found househunters could find much cheaper alternatives in nearby areas.

Greenwith and Elizabeth East recorded the largest value difference across Adelaide.

In the outer northeast, Greenwith’s $495,000 median house price is more than twice Elizabeth East’s median of $206,000 – a saving of $289,000.

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The figures paint a similar picture for prospective tenants, with Hewett and Evanston recording the largest median rent difference for houses at 64.23 per cent – or $176 a week.

The findings are ranked on the greatest variance in median price and rent between areas they either share a boundary with or are within a few kilometres of.

Harcourts Sergeant director Matt Sergeant, who specialises in the northern and northeastern suburbs, said it all came down to what people wanted in a home.

“You can still buy in Salisbury Heights at the lower end but it’s down the hill and they’re older homes,” he said.

“But $300,000 will buy you a superstar house in Elizabeth”.

Looking for property in a neighbouring suburb could save you money.

Closer to the city, Broadview’s median house price is $585,000 cheaper than Walkerville’s, which has broken the million-dollar threshold.

Ray White Norwood agent Nick Borrelli said many people were turning to the more affordable suburb.

“That’s what a lot of people started to do four to five years ago and that’s when we started to notice prices go up,” he said.

“Not a lot of people knew … how close it was.

“You’re surrounded by everything that you need and (have) got good access to the city and the water.”

Deanna Daminato and Michael Alves recently bought a house in Broadview because the area was affordable and close to family.

“This may not be our forever home because we want to live closer to the beach or city one day, but this works for us right now,” Ms Daminato said.

“We were looking for a big house with a backyard and this had everything we wanted.”

BRIDESMAID SUBURBS TO BUY

(Suburb #1, median house price, suburb #2, median house price, price difference, percentage difference)

Greenwith: $495,000 – Elizabeth East: $206,000 = $289,000, 140 per cent

Salisbury Heights: $400,000 – Elizabeth South: $171,000 = $229,000, 134 per cent

Hillbank: $347,500 – Elizabeth North: $159,000 = $188,500, 119 per cent

Onkaparinga Hills: $497,500 – Hackham West: $245,000 = $252,500, 103 per cent

Somerton Park: $924,000 – Seacombe Gardens: $456,000 = $468,000, 103 per cent

Walkerville: $1,157,500 – Broadview: $572,500 = $585,000, 102 per cent

(Suburb #1, median unit price, suburb #2, median unit price, price difference, percentage difference)

Glenelg North: $430,000 – Plympton: $240,000 = $190,000, 79 per cent

Norwood: $527,500 – Kensington Gardens: $391,000 = $136,500, 35 per cent

Glenelg East: $366,000 – West Beach: $292,500 = $73,500, 25 per cent

Henley Beach: $425,000 – Seaton: $345,000 = $80,000, 23 per cent

North Adelaide: $425,000 – Prospect: $379,000 – $46,000, 12 per cent

Fullarton: $436,100 – Unley: $393,000 = $43,100, 11 per cent

BRIDESMAID SUBURBS TO RENT

(Suburb #1, median house rent, suburb #2, median house rent, price difference, percentage difference)

Hewett: $450 – Evanston: $274 = $176, 64.23 per cent

Henley Beach South: $610 – Brooklyn Park: $405 = $205, 50.62 per cent

Walkerville: $550 – Broadview: $380 = $170, 44.74 per cent

Salisbury Heights $360 – Elizabeth South $251 $109 43.43 per cent

Hillbank: $350 – Elizabeth Grove: $250 = $100, 40.00 per cent

North Adelaide: $525 – Renown Park: $380 = $145, 38.16 per cent

(Suburb #1, median unit rent, suburb #2, median unit rent, price difference, percentage difference)

West Lakes: $433 – Queenstown: $265 = $168, 63.40 per cent

Adelaide: $448 – St Peters: $280 = $168, 60.00 per cent

Golden Grove: $360 – Salisbury East: $255 = $105, 41.18 per cent

Kent Town: $410 – Dulwich: $298 = $112, 37.58 per cent

Wayville: $385 – Richmond: $280 = $105, 37.50 per cent

Glenelg: $400 – Camden Park: $300 = $100, 33.33 per cent

(Source: realestate.com.au)

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This home at 34 Annie Street, Auchenflower went to auction on Saturday after being in the one family for more than 50 years.

TWENTY-one registered bidders were not enough to stop an inner-city house from passing in at auction after bidding stalled at $840,000.

In one of the first Public Trustee auctions since the statutory authority returned to the market following the COVID-19 lockdown in Queensland, only three people raised their bidder cards to take part in the auction of 34 Annie Street, Auchenflower.

“(With Public Trustee auctions) people think they’re going to get a massive bargain but our role is to look after the seller’s interest. So we sell for what’s fair on the market,” Public Trustee director of property Joanne Edsor said.

But after closing the auction and thanking the crowd of 100 for their attendance, auctioneer and agent Paul Gaffney scrambled to secure a deal and within five minutes the property was sold under auction conditions for $860,000 to the family who made the opening bid.

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Public Trustee auctioneer and selling agent Paul Gaffney at the auction of 34 Annie Street, Auchenflower.

“We did 19 auctions last weekend and we sold 13 of them, half of those, the first person to bid ended up buying the house,” Mr Gaffney said.

The reserve had been set at $900,000.

The crowd gathers before the auction begins.

Standing on the street in the middle of the crowd was freight train driver Anton Bubrle who had been looking after his mother’s two-bedroom house in Auchenflower since Ludmila Bartunek moved into a nursing home two years ago.

Anton and Bianca Bubrle in the house Anton grew up in.

“I have very mixed feelings, I grew up here. It’s sad, a chapter of my life is gone,” Mr Bubrle said. “It cost us $9000 at the time (in 1969). But mum isn’t moving back and it’s time. Anything around here is redone to such a high standard, it’s become a very rich area. Trust me, we weren’t rich when we moved in.”

SEE WHAT ELSE IS FOR SALE IN AUCHENFLOWER

But the memories of his mother’s famous homemade cheesecakes and pork schnitzel that she used to make for the Czech Club, and the creaking of a particular floorboard at the entrance to the living room, will never be forgotten.

The kitchen was where everyone came to chat while Ludmila Bartunek would make her famous Czech food.

“I’ve always liked the sound of that crack, for me it sounds like home,” Mr Bubrle’s wife Bianca said. “I noticed it the first time I came to visit Anton in 1994.”

The property was one of more than 50 to go to auction across Brisbane yesterday.

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1909 Point Nepean Road, in hot spot Tootgarook, is on the market with a $1.5-$1.65m price guide.

Proponents of hot spotting say the quickest way to build a solid property portfolio is to target areas on the verge of growth.

Yet, fans of investing in proven long-term performers argue the best way to maximise profit is to buy in areas with a track record of long-term capital growth.

So which approach should you choose? Here’s a look at the pros and cons of both to help you decide which strategy is better.

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Melbourne’s top five proven performers and up-and-coming suburbs, according to realestate.com.au.

WHY HOT SPOTS ARE HOT

Because they’re generally in emerging areas, hot spots tend to be more affordable compared to the proven performers, according to property professor and author Peter Koulizos.

“You’re getting in just before the upturn so your initial cost of entry is also much lower,” he said.

He said hot spots were areas where substantial growth hadn’t occurred yet, so the potential for rapid growth, at least in the short term, was higher compared to proven performers.

As buyers make the purchase at the cusp of an upturn, there is the potential to amass equity quickly from a growth spurt.

WBP Group executive chairman Greville Pabst said up-and-coming suburbs — also known as “bridesmaid ’burbs” — were those that were predicted to grow off the back a high-performing neighbouring area.

“I look at an up-and-coming suburb as one adjoining a suburb that is already a solid performer,” he said. “If Prahran is too expensive, do we look in Windsor or St Kilda East? If Brunswick West is too expensive, then what about Pascoe Vale South?”

Philip Webb founder Philip Webb said buyers could get more bang for their buck in an up-and-coming suburb. “You are being speculative as to where the suburb is going, but can generally get more for your money — a bigger house (or better) style of property than in a tried and true suburb,” he said.

WBP Group executive chairman Greville Pabst said there was good value to be found in bridesmaid suburbs.

WHY HEAT MIGHT NOT COME

When it comes to investing in hot spots the operative word is “potential”, meaning the growth may not always come around.

Hot spots have the potential to grow quickly during the initial upturn phase. But if the fundamentals are lacking, this growth spurt could quickly fizzle out.

“The key risk is that a (bridesmaid) suburb may not have the same infrastructure, like public transport, a shopping village or school,” Mr Pabst said. Without those fundamentals, the suburb may never take off in value, he added.

PROVEN-PERFORMER POSITIVES

Proven performers are areas where there is already steady demand and growth, driven by a range of attractive amenities and lifestyle components.

“There is a desirability or cultural score that makes it more expensive and in demand,” Mr Pabst said.

“The disadvantage is stock is often in short supply and underlying demand tends to underpin price growth, making these suburbs more expensive.

“They may have a view, larger blocks, be within a good school zone or a trendy retail strip shopping precinct — it’s hard to replicate that amenity.”

Propertyology managing director Simon Pressley said there was no guarantee proven performers would continue to perform well.

PROOF ISN’T ALWAYS IN THE PURCHASE

While proven performers may have achieved strong growth in the past, there was no certainty it would go on indefinitely, Propertyology director Simon Pressley said.

“I don’t think there are any pros to picking a tried and tested performer,” he said. “It is making the biggest financial decision one can make and relying 100 per cent on complacency — it’s high risk.

“We can’t expect what has happened before to be repeated again.”

Mr Pressley warned buying in a proven performer could set investors up for failure, but said there were ways to minimise the risk.

“Don’t throw all your eggs in the one basket and buy a really expensive asset,” he said. “It’s breaking the No. 1 rule of investing, it’s like putting all (your money) on black (at the casino).”

Mr Pressley said those with a bigger budget should break it up.

“Take advantage of our huge country and buy multiple properties in multiple locations,” he advised.

DSRdata.com.au creator Jeremy Sheppard agreed there was no guarantee when buying in a suburb that had previously performed well.

“It is a risk, buying into an area that isn’t hot right now in the hope of superior long-term capital growth in the future,” he said.

“The longer the forecast, the less sure I am of what the future holds for proven performer property markets. But I’m much more confident of the short-term growth prospects of hot spots.”

157 Mandalay Circuit, in proven performer Beveridge, is up for sale with a $540,000-$570,000 price guide.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

The good news is you don’t have to choose between these two approaches, according to Mr Sheppard.

“Ideally you should aim for a hot spot that lies within a proven performer area,” he said.

“This way, you benefit from the demand in these proven performers and still get in at a lower price.

“I’d keep my eye on good long-term growth markets like those that are close to capital cities, and more particularly, gentrifying suburbs within them. I’d buy into them when they start to enter their next surge of growth.”

Mr Webb said preparation was the key and suggested looking for the “worst house on the best street”. “To get the best of both worlds, you have to be prepared to put in the time and the work,” he advised.

“There might be a house with really good bones that you can improve on and establish over time.

“The secret to a good purchase is to do a lot of research, go to every open inspection and search the internet. You might come across a house that is not that attractive to the general public, yet a coat of paint or a garden landscape may make it a great home.”

Mr Pressley advised learning from history to determine the factors that have had the biggest influence on property prices.

“It’s not the suburb or property (that grows in value), it’s the economic conditions of the city,” he said. “That’s always had the biggest influence and is the biggest driver of demand.”

Mr Pressley said demand was the second biggest influence, and was heavily impacted by the construction sector.

“Investing is a financial decision, and the starting point for making an informed financial decision is to remove emotion,” he said.

“(Then) get a big body of information that paints a picture of the future economy, housing supply and basic mitigation strategies.”

– With Nila Sweeney

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Australian Chamber Orchestra violinist Maja Savnik at home in Caringbah South.

As a little girl growing up in Slovenia, Maja Savnik wanted to play the trumpet like her father and brother. But with two professional trumpeters in the family, her mother encouraged her to learn another instrument.

“I didn’t play the violin until I was I was seven, and I didn’t take it up seriously until I was almost 10,” Maja says.

Having performed with several orchestras in Slovenia, including the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, of which Beethoven is an honorary member, and toured with Sting on his Symphonicity tour, Maja applied to join the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO).

“It’s a very different beast to work in a chamber orchestra,” she says. “You’re much more exposed and a more active part of what is happening on stage.”

With no performances scheduled due to COVID-19, the ACO has been running a virtual Academy to mentor young musicians.

“It’s heartbreaking not to be able to perform on stage,” Maja says.

Having met her husband, Michael, during her trial period in Sydney almost five years ago, the couple have settled into Caringbah South.

“I love the Shire — and I especially love that I get woken up by kookaburras,” she says.

Words: Catherine Nikas-Boulos

Photos: Adam Yip

More: aco.com.au/acohomecasts

Who Australian Chamber Orchestra violinist Maja Savnik

Where Caringbah South with husband Michael Thoms

Favourite thing George is a British shorthair. We got him when I was feeling homesick and he’s quite the smartypants

Inspiration A mix of traditional Slovene pieces and modern Australian items

Home is I’m fortunate enough to have two homes in two different countries

MAJA’S FAVOURITE THINGS

Maja’s cat George is a British Shorthair.

Favourite thing George is a British shorthair. We got him when I was feeling a bit homesick and he’s quite the smartypants.

Cushions from Stalley Briton in Hobart inspired by native animals.

Stalley cushions: I was in a gallery in Hobart and came across a local artist who makes these hand-printed cushions. I bought some, then came home, found her online, and bought even more. It’s so important to support small business.

Maja likes to use this traditional Slovene coffee pot to make coffee.

Coffee pot: My best friend Nina gave me this. I still make coffee like I did in Slovenia. My husband doesn’t like it, but I still love it. The smell is beautiful and it reminds me of being in my parents’ home.

A Slovene witch to keep the evil spirits away.

Slovene witch: In Slovenia we believe if you hang the witch towards the door, she’ll chase away negative energy and make your home a happy place. We’re quite superstitious in Slovenia and this was a present from my mum.

This book of Slovene folk songs reminds Maja of visits to her grandmother’s house

Book of Slovene folk songs: Every weekend I would go to my grandmother’s house where she would sing folk songs and we would all join in. One of my aunts gave me this when I got married to remind me of my heritage and culture.

Maja’s husband Michael made this coffee table for her.

Coffee table made by Michael: This was the first piece of furniture I ever had in Australia. As I was preparing to move here after my trial period, Michael made it and when I landed it was waiting for me.

This Ida Rebula painting that was a gift from Maja’s parents.

Ida Rebula painting: My parents’ house is filled with paintings by this artist. My dad is also a bit of an amateur painter too. He gave me this painting as a gift when I was moving away and it’s something that will stay with me forever.

This blanket that was a wedding gift for Maja. It was made by women from Bosnia.

Blanket from Bosnia: We were married in Slovenia, and a friend noticed I was following (on social media) a group of women making blankets in Bosnia, and she bought this for us. She went to a lot of trouble to get it over the border.

Maja loves these crocheted doilies from her mum

Crocheted doilies: I grew up with these things all over the house, and I was always annoyed because you had to pick them up and dust them off when cleaning. I love them now. They’re from my mum and now they’re all over my house.

This pendant holds pictures of Maja’s husband Michael on one side and her parents on the other.

Pendant: My husband gave me this. One side has my parents and the other side is a photo of him, so wherever I go I have them in my heart. It’s very special.

The post At home with ACO violinist Maja Savnik appeared first on realestate.com.au.

A curved skylight in this house by architect Shaun Carter allows daylight and moonlight to stream into the centre of the house. More: carterwilliamson.com Picture: Katherine Lu

If you’ve ever spent time walking through the bush or felt the sand between your toes at the beach, you already understand the calming effects of connecting with nature.

But when we’re all being directed to stay at home, it can be hard to get the benefits.

This house at Mona Vale designed by architect Richard Cole is designed to let the sun penetrate deep into the living space. Picture: Simon Wood

Honorary Assoc Prof Mardie Townsend from the Faculty of Health at Deakin University says the jury is in on the advantages of interacting with nature.

“We know anecdotally that nature is good for us,” she says. “There is a lot of research that backs that up from Australia, Sweden, the UK and the US. Contact with nature reduces stress, provides relaxation and creates a sense of calm.”

The Iron Maiden house designed and built by C+C Architectural Workshop has a water feature running through it and internal garden space that can be enjoyed from the inside as well. Picture: Murray Fredericks

While she says the best results come from being in nature, it’s possible to achieve similar results by designing your spaces well.

Architect Richard Cole has designed houses for sites around Sydney blessed with views of the ocean or the bush. He says the need to connect with the natural world, even when we’re not in it, is primal.

“(American architect) Grant Hildebrand talks about the instinctual need of humans to be attracted to spaces that have natural shelter going back to the evolution of humans living in caves,” he says.

“It’s something I think about when starting with a concept. Often it will have an enclosing wall and a site that opens to a deck.”

The need to connect with nature is part of being human. From this house designed by architect Matt Elkan you can see the trees, hear the wind in the leaves and enjoy the smell of the bush. Picture: Clinton Weaver

High windows that let in the sun or natural elements that will create patterns on the floors or walls indoors, such as a mature tree, rippled glass or a water source allow us to feel a part of nature without being in it.

“Louvres can provide beautiful shadow effects when you open them up and the light bounces off them,” Cole says. “We often use water features in our work.

“If you have a fountain or an overflow, you get the sound of trickling water which can be soothing and can mask the sounds you don’t want, like traffic.”

Raked ceilings in this house by Richard Cole allow for highlight windows to let in light and to hear the sound of the rain on the roof during storms. Picture: John Fotiadis

Even the sound of rain on the roof can have a calming effect at a time when stress levels are high. Townsend says nature can be restorative.

“Getting in touch with nature can be used therapeutically for healing,” she says.

More: richardcolearchitecture.com.au

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This house, dubbed the Tessellated House by architect Matt Elkan, has been designed with a series of private outdoor spaces. Picture: Clinton Weaver

When you have introvert and extrovert tendencies in the same family, creating a house that will keep everyone happy can be a challenge. Architect Matt Elkan says the original small cottage on this block in Newport was exposed to the street on two sides.

“The old house was in the middle of the block where every window faced out on to the boundary,” he says. “There was no good outdoor space and you couldn’t get light in.”

The kitchen is central to the floorplan on the ground floor. Picture: Clinton Weaver

The family of four were moving from a house at Bilgola Plateau to this site because it would provide a better connection to the shops and the beach for their teenagers.

“The old house is not far from where they live now but it was at the top of a steep plateau and it can feel really isolated,” Matt says. “It was a case of giving the kids what they needed.”

Matt designed a two-storey house in a U-shape. Three bedrooms are upstairs with an eastern wing for the parents and a western wing for the kids, linked by a study space.

Living spaces downstairs are deliberately articulated so they can be opened up or closed down as the need arises.

This room currently serves as a music room but could be converted into a self-contained flat. Picture: Clinton Weaver

“The ground floor has an area that could be blocked off as a self-contained flat if needed,” says Matt. “They wanted a bit of flexibility around this space.”

At the moment, it works as a music room but Elkan has future-proofed it, with plumbing concealed behind a desk for a possible kitchenette.

“There’s also a guest loo that could become part of the space and that room also has separate external access,” he says.

Treating the house and garden as a whole was key to the success of the project. Picture: Clinton Weaver

Treating the site as a whole, rather than a separate house and garden, was key to making the 550sq m block work. Views of treetops and plants can be enjoyed from most rooms, although lawn has been kept to a minimum.

Matt says council approval was straightforward, for good reason. “We were pretty keen to make sure we didn’t breach any council controls. It passed fairly easily — there were not any significant considerations.”

Large timber screens can be opened or closed, depending on the need for privacy. Picture: Clinton Weaver

Temperatures are moderated using louvred windows in summer and hydronic underfloor heating in winter. Best of all, the house works for everyone.

“The wife wanted connection to the street and the husband wanted space to be on his own,” Matt says.

“With the big screens at the front, she imagined pushing them back and seeing everyone as they passed. He imagined pulling them across and creating that sense of refuge.”

Everyone wins.

Pictures: Clinton Weaver

THE PROJECT

Owners

A couple with two teenage children

Architect

Matt Elkan, mattelkanarchitect.com.au

The brief

To replace a small cottage with a comfortable but thoughtfully designed three-bedroom house

The site

550sq m flat block in Newport

Design solution

A two-storey, U-shaped house with private outdoor space

How long did it take?

12 months to build

THE SOURCE

Builder Avalon Constructions, avalonconstructions.com

Landscape architect Lindy Hulton Larson, hultonlarson landscapearchitect.com Joinery Luke Geercke Cabinet Making, lukegeercke.com.au

Doors and windows Shamrock Joinery, shamrockjoinery.com.au

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