River House By MCK Architects

Australian studio MCK Architects completed the River House project in 2009.

This 5,812 square-foot contemporary home is located in Sydney, Australia.

River House by MCK Architects:

“For the River House, the site provided the greatest opportunities and the largest constraints to the design. It is steep and awkwardly shaped but retains magnificent North facing panoramic views over the Lane Cove River. The air space was therefore utilized to gain additional footprint space, and create a floating datum, effectively the Street Level Ground Floor plane. This datum was duplicated as a ‘lid’ over itself; hence the two floating parallel floor plates proudly cantilever over the existing castle-esque sandstone basement walls.

The First Floor shingle box remains recessive, mainly from the riverside. Generous circulation zones greet the user upon entry. A wedge-shaped joinery box floating in a plan like an island separates the circulation zones from the central Living Zone and thus heightens the experience of the journey through the space.

The house relates to its rectilinear suburban context at its street edge, more natural contours, and organic lines on the non-street side. The Main Living Zone is a bent tube-shaped form with the Kitchen as the fulcrum. From this space, significant views of the local natural precinct can be obtained.

It is here primarily that the house reflects its most significant influence: the river.”

Photos by: Steven Back

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