Entry is through a modestly scaled courtyard, leading to the uppermost volume—a lightweight, predominantly open-plan structure that accommodates casual living, dining, and kitchen spaces beneath a slender, curved barrel-vaulted roof. This elevated pavilion benefits from expansive western views and is defined by a sense of openness and warmth, setting the material and spatial tone for the sequence of spaces that unfold below.

Central to the design is a carefully choreographed journey—one that transitions from public to private, from openness to intimacy, as the architecture descends gradually towards the harbour. The two lower levels, encased in sandstone-clad volumes, accommodate private functions including bedrooms, bathrooms, a library, and service areas. These spaces are deliberately more enclosed, reinforcing the spatial hierarchy and enhancing the sense of retreat.

Externally, the three levels are interconnected by a stepped courtyard—a series of terraced landscape spaces that draw daylight and fresh air deep into the plan, while visually stitching the building into its landscape and broader context. The lower levels are defined by monolithic Wandabyne sandstone perimeter walls, with large-format glazed openings strategically placed to frame select views and introduce light. Superimposed copper-framed awnings overlay the fenestration, offering visual texture while modulating sunlight and enhancing privacy.

Internally, the tactile expression of natural stone continues, juxtaposed against crisp white plaster surfaces, expansive clear-glass windows, and the rich tones of recycled West Australian Karri hardwood, which is used extensively across floors, ceilings, full-height doors, and custom joinery. Copper detailing is integrated throughout, providing accent and depth to panelling, lighting coves, staircases, and most dramatically, in the hand-woven copper lining of the vaulted roof above the main living space.

Further artisanal elements, including bespoke brass lighting fixtures, brecciated limestone in bathrooms, illuminated textured-glass splashbacks, and custom copper hardware, underscore the handcrafted nature of the home. These refined moments are the result of close and sustained collaboration between architect, builder, and specialist fabricators—each element carefully resolved, prototyped, and executed to the highest standard.

The result is a residence that is both materially rich and experientially layered—an architectural narrative that unfolds through a series of spatial episodes, moving fluidly between the natural and the built, the expansive and the intimate. Every detail has been choreographed to engage with light, view, and texture throughout the day, reinforcing a deep connection between inhabitant, place, and design.

One Wingadal Place stands as a celebration of craftsmanship and a return to the bespoke. It exemplifies the depth of design quality that can be achieved through persistence, care, and collaboration. In 2020 the project was awarded a commendation for residential architecture at the 2020 AIA New South Wales Architecture Awards.