Our Approach

House Murra Murra's architectural approach is characterised by its contemporary forms, which gracefully recede into the hillside and unveil themselves as you traverse the street. From the upper level, the house presents as a single-level home, sitting low against the horizon with abundant natural materials and soft curves, presenting a welcoming and calming addition to the streetscape. From the base of the site, the three levels of the home become apparent. These three distinctive forms are sculpted in response to the local context, the site's topography, the complexity of several protected vistas and the natural climatic conditions of the area.

With such breathtaking panoramic ocean views from the site's upper levels, the house's internal configuration was simple. An open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space embody sophisticated living and environmental harmony, fostering a sense of privacy, tranquillity, and seamless connection with its coastal setting. The master bedroom suite was to also extend out to this view together with the entry to the house and vertical circulation, which were placed on the view axis to the bay, offering all who entered the house a glimpse of that spectacular view before revealing the entire horizon as you venture further into the home.

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Biophilic Design

A surprise that awaits inside is the central double-height courtyard, acting as the heart of the residence. It ensures natural light and ventilation flow freely throughout all levels and connects living spaces vertically through biophilic design principles. The building's deep, drawn-out eaves and expansive openings provide shelter from the elements while maintaining unobstructed views and a connection to nature on all levels. This family home is meticulously designed around a modern Australian way of life. Its seamless connection to external spaces allows the house to expand and contract throughout the year or as the occasion dictates. The main living space extends north with a larger entertaining terrace that leads to an intimate sitting area and a free-form pool. The pool, with a waterfall edge, is orientated to create the illusion of swimming towards the horizon beyond and adds to the sense of wonder this house offers.

Below this level, connected via a sculptural staircase and cascading foliage, are five bedrooms, each with its own ensuite and private balcony, a generous study space and a family room with a connection to the double-height central courtyard. The lowest level, which is partly buried, includes a three-car garage, cinema room for the family, generously sized laundry, wine cellar, W/C, and home gym opening out to the lower street level with a half basketball court and extensive landscaping, providing all the needs and wishes of the residents to allow the full enjoyment of their future home.

Sustainable Approach

The sustainable approach for House Murra Murra blends passive design with high-performance building materials and uses biophilic design with natural material choices such as timber and stone to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that harmonises with its seaside setting and positively contributes to the environment. Densely layered landscaping conscious of suitable plant species enhances the aesthetic and functional cohesion of the project; landscaping is used as a design element to optimise views without compromising privacy. House Murra Murra honours its environment and the local Little Bay community by demonstrating heritage sensitivity and alignment with local values. The community has welcomed the project for its ability to exceed neighbourhood expectations, enhance the local aesthetics and deliver a modern interpretation of coastal living.