Wingadal Place


Wingadal Place

Elevated on a dramatically sloping site at Point Piper, One Wingadal Place is designed as a luxury residence that provides a sense of privacy and retreat, whilst maximizing the potential of its prized location.

The building reconciles intricate planning with complex topography, and is characterised by three terracing levels that step and splay down the sloping terrain of the triangular site.

Arrival through a modestly scaled entry court leads to the upper volume,  a predominantly open plan lightweight structure that encompasses the casual living, dining and kitchen areas under a slender curved barrel-vaulted roof. The upper space benefits from expansive city and district views to the west and is characterised by openness and warm materiality that signals the tone and syntax of the sequence of spaces that follow.

Integral to the design is a continually increasing sense of intimacy, privacy and a journey – experienced through gradual descent to the harbour below. Enclosed within sandstone faced volumes, the two lower floors encompass bedrooms, bathrooms, library and service spaces. 

Externally, the three stories are linked through a stepped courtyard – a sequence of terraced spaces that bring daylight and fresh air into the depth of the building whilst visually connecting the individual levels and volumes to the landscape, harbour and city beyond. 

The lower building forms are splayed in plan and characterised by monolithic Wandabyne sandstone perimeter walls with a system of large scale glazed openings, punctured through to selectively frame views. Contrasted against the stonework are superimposed copper façade awning frames, creating a veiled overlay to fenestration, curating views into and out from the building, and modulating light entering into the individual rooms and spaces. 

Internally, the natural stone detailing is continued and contrasted against crisp white plaster walls, large clear glass panel windows, and the rich dark recycled West Australian Karri hardwood that lines the floor, ceiling, full height doors and solid joinery. Copper is utilised throughout, providing accents for panelling, light-coves, interconnecting staircases and most strikingly in the dramatic textured hand woven lining for the barrel vaulted upper roof. 

Bespoke brass light fittings, brecciated limestone bathrooms, illuminated textured glass splash-backs, and copper door hardware are all custom designed to further enhance the artisanal nature of the house. The success of these unique moments is attributed to the consistent collaboration between the design team, builder and specialist fabricators resolving and testing solutions.

The meticulously crafted nature of the project gives form to carefully sequenced experiences, transitioning from exterior to interior environments, wandering between uninhibited landscapes and intimate sanctuaries. Every moment is carefully choreographed with perfectly framed views, and a rich material palette that heightens the changing qualities of light through the day, expressed through the delicate intimacy of bespoke hand crafted detail.

One Wingadal Place is a celebration of artisanal technique and a return to the bespoke – an ode to the enrichment and craftsmanship that can be achieved through the persistence and collaboration of clients, architects and fabricators striving to achieve the highest level of design quality.

The project is the winner of a commendation at the AIA 2020 NSW Architecture Awards.  

Client
Private clients
Architecture
Collins and Turner in association with Temple and Stockwell
Structure
Partridge and Partners
Electrical
Erbas
Mechanical
Erbas
Certifier
Grant Harrington
Landscape
Craig Burton
Builder
Pimas Gale
Photography
Rory Gardiner , Richard Glover