Gully House, by Andrew Burges Architects, is situated on a steep site backing into the forested gully of Clovelly Beach in Sydney. Designed as a 3-4 bedroom residence, the project sought to establish a strong connection to its surroundings both spatially and materially. The original masonry cottage had minimal links between its north-facing front and its south-facing rear which directly accessed Clovelly Beach. The design reimagined the house as an extension of the gully, maintaining visual continuity across the site. The north/south facade, with its transparency and split-level cross-section, visually connects the northern courtyard to the southern landscape. Meanwhile, the east/west facades serve as filters for privacy, ventilation and glare, incorporating layered planting. Given the proximity of neighbouring dwellings, various screening systems—including masonry, timber, and brick—were used. Materials such as stone paving and concrete create seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, softened by refined oak finishes.

Photography by Peter Bennetts & Hamish Macintosh.