Stepping Up

Terraced back on its sloping site this Sydney eastern suburbs house makes the most of the ocean outlook with a simple, quietly luxurious design.

- Judy Pascoe

Faced with a steeply sloping site that promised a spectacular ocean view in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, architect Matthew Krusin, principal of Tobias Partners, knew that a terraced design was the answer.

“We had a challenge – we knew how many levels we needed to go up and we didn’t want to create a straightup monster,” says Matthew. However, it’s one thing to terrace down but very different to terrace up. “We had to ensure that as you ascend the site each level is an experience. Otherwise you just feel you are constantly walking up.”

The single-storey house that occupied the site squandered its dress-circle ocean views. Having lived in the neighbourhood for some time the owners wanted to be close to the beach for their two young children and were excited by the possibilities of the block. They needed space but also wanted a simple design where all the levels of the house felt connected.