Modern house on a grassy slope with trees and waterway in the background.

A modern house situated on a sloped grassy landscape, surrounded by trees with a view of a waterway in the background.

A modern house with a flat roof and large windows, surrounded by trees and greenery.
A house with a corrugated roof is nestled in a lush, forested area with a view of a waterway in the background.
Aerial view of a house surrounded by greenery and located near a body of water.
A house surrounded by dense greenery with a view of a waterway in the background.
An open-plan kitchen area with wooden cabinetry and a central island, connected to an outdoor courtyard. The space features large glass windows and a corrugated roof, with surrounding greenery visible.
A house with a corrugated metal roof surrounded by trees, featuring an open area with a table and stools visible through a large opening.
A covered outdoor area with a dining table and chairs, featuring a concrete floor and a corrugated roof. The space is open to the surrounding trees and landscape.
A courtyard area with wooden furniture, a small tree, and a corrugated metal roof, surrounded by greenery.
A modern kitchen and dining area with wooden interiors, featuring a large window opening to an outdoor courtyard. The kitchen has blue cabinetry and a central island, while the dining area includes a round wooden table with chairs.
A modern kitchen interior with blue cabinetry, a central island, and wooden elements. The space opens to an outdoor area with a potted plant and seating.
Interior view of a room featuring wooden walls and ceiling, a round wooden dining table with chairs, and a pendant light. The space opens to an outdoor area through sliding doors.
A cozy interior space featuring a corner sofa, a round marble coffee table, and a wood-burning stove. The room has wooden walls and ceiling beams, with a large window offering a view of trees outside.
Interior view of a room with large sliding wooden doors opening to a view of trees and a body of water. The floor is tiled, and the ceiling has a concrete finish.
Interior view of a room with wooden sliding doors, a bed partially visible, and a concrete ceiling with a fluted design.
A cozy interior space featuring a wooden bed, a window with a view of trees, and a wooden wardrobe.
Interior view of a corner with a wooden window frame, marble countertop, and wooden drawers, with sunlight casting shadows.
Interior view of a room with wooden beams and a concrete wall, featuring a window with a view of lush green palm trees outside.
A covered outdoor seating area with wooden beams and furniture, surrounded by lush greenery.
A covered outdoor seating area with wooden beams and a view of trees.
A view from a covered balcony overlooking a lush landscape with trees and a body of water. A sailboat is visible in the distance.
Site plan of Enclave House showing the layout of the building, surrounding vegetation, and proximity to water.
Architectural floor plan of the lower ground level of Enclave House, showing labeled rooms and areas including entry stair, deck, rumpus, bedroom, bathroom, storage room, planter, water tanks, entry, sitting room, courtyard, kitchen/dining, loggia, laundry, and studio.
Architectural ground floor plan of Enclave House, showing the layout of rooms and outdoor spaces, including a courtyard, kitchen/dining area, and studio.
Architectural roof plan of a house with labeled areas including entry stair, deck, rumpus, bedrooms, bathrooms, storage room, planter, water tanks, entry, sitting room, courtyard, kitchen/dining, loggia, laundry, and studio. The plan includes surrounding landscape elements like trees.
Architectural section drawing of a house on a sloped site, showing multiple levels and a detailed roof structure. Trees are illustrated in the background.

Story

A Resilient Dwelling in Sydney's Pittwater Accessible only by boat, Enclave House is situated within the serene Pittwater waterway, surrounded by weathered sandstone ridges and headlands. This unique location, positioned directly on the edge of a saltwater tidal estuary, offers a tranquil setting that is both secluded and intimately connected to the natural environment. The house replaces an old asbestos shack, transforming the site into a robust and resilient dwelling that harmonizes with its surroundings. Anchored within an existing clearing, the house establishes a platform embedded in the slope, forming the primary organizing datum of the plan. This platform provides essential flat ground on the steep site, with children's bedrooms below and a central room oriented toward the foreshore. The bedrooms are housed in raised cabins, forming edges above the communal area, while the fluted concrete slab soffit offers thermal mass and structural rigidity, creating a quiet, cave-like interior. Above the platform, lightweight roofs shelter enclosed rooms arranged around a central courtyard, the primary area of occupation that directly connects to the landscape. The design omits a conventional living room, instead distributing living spaces across the house and landscape, offering varied degrees of enclosure. A breezeway through the site is created by the courtyard and kitchen pavilion, with a loggia behind the kitchen providing grounding. The architecture is informed by restraint, prioritizing the essential over the superfluous. The roof, subtly proportioned to reduce visual presence, draws light deep into the plan, while a repetitive timber frame adds rhythm and tactility to the interiors. The roof becomes the fifth elevation, clad in corrugated copper for longevity, acting as a protective armature.

## Design Highlights

Platform embedded in slope for structural organization Central courtyard as primary area of occupation Fluted concrete slab soffit for thermal mass and acoustics Lightweight roofs and repetitive timber frame for rhythm Corrugated copper roof as protective armature

## Key Facts

Key Aspect Detail
Location Pittwater, Sydney, Australia
Architect Bohane Campo
Material Palette Concrete, Timber, Copper
Access Boat only
Environmental Focus Resilience and integration

Technical Summary

Finishes

  • Roof: Clad in corrugated copper for longevity, acting as a protective armature.
  • Ceiling: Fluted concrete slab soffit.

Materials

  • Concrete — Used for the fluted slab soffit and flooring.
  • Wood — Used for interior finishes and furniture.
  • Glass — Used for large windows and sliding doors.
  • Corrugated Metal — Used for the roof.

Construction / Systems

  • Structural System: Repetitive timber frame provides rhythm and tactility to interior spaces.
  • Facade System: Overlapping materials to reduce reliance on joint sealants.

Products

  • Not specified

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: natural wood tones, blue cabinetry
  • Lighting: Natural light is drawn deep into the plan through the subtly proportioned roof.

Similar projects

More residential

Projects by the architect

View Bohane Campo

No other projects found for this architect yet.