A multi-level house design that calibrates concrete, gardens, and light on a sloping Sydney site
Project Overview
As a house design, the project is documented here through its site response, spatial organization, material strategy, and architectural details.
This house design by Manolev Architects in Sydney’s Lower North Shore organizes strong concrete forms around gardens and filtered natural light. A thick cantilevered kitchen island sets a sculptural tone inside, while a floating concrete deck projects into a palm canopy outside. Across its levels, the home frames views to planting and incorporates a swimming pool aligned for sunlight and privacy.
Exterior view of the modern home showcasing its striking concrete structure.
Set toward the rear of an irregular, sloping site, the residence preserves mature Bangalow palms as a defining foreground. Interiors maintain a restrained palette—concrete walls, limestone tiled floors, sandblasted travertine, and black cabinetry—allowing light and greenery to modulate the atmosphere throughout the day. Related explorations of material and landscape can be seen in Interwoven Landscapes and the Australian Rammed Earth Retreat.
Site and Urban Context
The house responds to an irregular, sloping parcel on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. Retaining the mature Bangalow palms at the front, the building steps back to form a generous garden threshold. A curved approach path threads through the planting to create a measured arrival.
Plant-filled garden surrounding the home, creating a lush ambiance.
A floating concrete deck projects beneath the palm canopy, extending the ground plane and establishing an outdoor platform connected to the living spaces. The rear garden consolidates outdoor amenity, where the pool sits alongside main glazing to capture sunlight while preserving privacy from neighbors. For more projects emphasizing planted thresholds and outdoor rooms, see our tag on gardens.
House Design Concept
The design works as a series of calibrated frames and planes. Two sculptural anchors—the cantilevered kitchen island and the floating deck—signal a broader interest in mass and suspension within domestic space. Openings are sized to admit daylight and to place vegetation in direct dialogue with interior surfaces. For additional references to structural projection, browse cantilever.
A minimalist kitchen featuring a floating concrete island and sleek cabinetry.
Spatial Organization
The sloping site produces a multi-level interior linked by concrete and timber staircases. A double-height living room forms the spatial core, with full-height glazing on opposing sides establishing visual connections to the front palms and a rear valley view. Folding doors open to the deck, and picture windows capture views of planted rooftop gardens.
Bright living area with large windows flooding the space with natural light.
Circulation is arranged to keep long sightlines between levels, allowing light to move through the plan. Living areas align closely with outdoor spaces, while private rooms gain controlled apertures to greenery.
Materials and Facade
A consistent interior palette—cast concrete walls, limestone tiled floors, and sandblasted travertine wall cladding—creates a tactile, subdued backdrop. Black cabinetry sharpens the kitchen’s profile around the cantilevered island, and timber stair elements introduce measured warmth against the mineral surfaces. Extensive glazing is deployed as full-height panels, folding openings, and picture windows.
Light, Climate, and Atmosphere
Daylight is a central actor. Large panels of glazing, three strategically placed skylights, and picture windows pull light deep into the home. The front palms filter sun to soften concrete and stone textures, while the pool’s placement merges water reflections with interior views. Across the day, shifting light accentuates surface relief and frames layers of planting.
Design Highlights
Thick, cantilevered kitchen island forming a sculptural centerpiece and informal seating edge Floating concrete deck extending beneath mature palm canopies at the front garden Double-height living room with full-height glazing on two sides for cross-views to landscape Swimming pool aligned along main living glazing for sunlight capture and privacy Multi-level plan responding to a sloping, irregular site with linked indoor-outdoor terraces Concrete and timber stairways that stitch levels while introducing material warmth Picture windows oriented to planted rooftop gardens and dense rear planting Interior finishes of concrete, limestone tiles, and sandblasted travertine for cohesive materiality
Key Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Project | Inside a Sydney Home: House Design With a Gravity-Defying Kitchen Island |
| Architect | Manolev Architects |
| Location | Sydney, Lower North Shore, Australia |
| Year | — |
| Status | Built |
| Program | Single-family house; kitchen; living room; bathroom; swimming pool; garden |
| Main Materials | Concrete; limestone tile; sandblasted travertine; timber; glass |
| Keywords | house design; cantilevered kitchen island; floating concrete deck; double-height living room; skylights; indoor-outdoor connection; sloping site; Bangalow palms |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the house?
Manolev Architects led the architecture and interior design.
Where is the project located?
It is in Sydney, on the Lower North Shore of Australia.
What materials define the interior palette?
Concrete walls, limestone tiled floors, and sandblasted travertine are primary, with black cabinetry and timber stair elements.
What is notable about the kitchen?
A thick, cantilevered island acts as a sculptural focal point and provides seating for two stools.
How does the design handle natural light?
Full-height glazing, picture windows, and three skylights draw daylight into the interiors and frame garden views.
How is the swimming pool positioned?
Alongside the main living room glazing to capture sunlight while maintaining privacy from neighboring properties.