Conceived of as a peninsular jutting out from the circulation box abutting the slope, the planar inflection of the space opens to the shimmering expanse of harbour towards Sydney Heads. Essentially a strip of terraced hillside hemmed in by glazed 'piles' sporting steeply retained pools and patios that exploit Sydney's premier views, the Hrdlicka House seems unduly modest in siting and compactness. The entry sits tightly against the parking deck, retained from an earlier development. Although the bulk of the house spreads horizontally along the site, the tight southern entry pays dividends to the north, where the easy patio extension to the living area incorporates natural rock and the contours of the site. At the far end the shaped pool, like that of an Aalto vase, is both remote from the house and discrete in its placement.

Photographers: Brett Boardman and Neil Durbach