Plascon House Tour: The Urban Edge

Today’s stylish retreat is a sophisticated home that serves as an urban treehouse. Utilising the contours of a sloping site, this sculptural new build provides a powerful connection with its natural surroundings.

Featuring four sculptural pavilions that nestle into the sloping site, the home’s interior is connected to the varying exterior levels thanks to a split-level arrangement, while a dramatic atrium in the centre of the house serves as a transition between the two floors and living areas.

Home to a family of seven, this home features 6 stylish bedrooms. The home is filled with custom pieces. A dramatic blackened steel form was created for the fireplace and the dining table (above) was made by a local furniture maker, Hugh McCarthy, using a tree that was felled during the build.

Owners wanted a clean and natural palette with a high level of sustainability. When building a new house from scratch, they believe owners have a certain accountability when it comes to environmental issues.

All rooms branch off from the atrium (above), so exploring the levels of the house is easy. The white block work is one example of how traditionally exterior materials have been used inside.

The connection between the external and internal spaces happens as soon as you enter the dramatic hall, with the exterior bluestone pavers continuing inside and the custom blackbutt timber shiplap cladding and standing seam metal cladding wrapping down one of the predominant internal walls.

Contrasting with the dark and structured atrium, the adjacent living spaces are soft, gentle and filled with sunlight.

Juxtaposed with a heavy black rangehood (a nod to the home’s exterior), the open kitchen space features marble surfaces and custom joinery in a light, breezy palette. The result is a sleek, modern and airy space – ideal for a big family.

The raw industrial style of the large-format tiles in the bathroom creates a tactile contrast with the refined freestanding bath. The end result is a modern, urban space – the ultimate space for relaxation.