Triple the views
When they had the chance to build in one of the best locations in Newcastle, the homeowners of this five-bedroom abode seized the day and designed their forever home.
For over 50 years a triple fronted apartment block occupied this highly coveted spot near Dixon Park towards Merewether Beach. When it was put on the market, locals Mark and Denise jumped at the chance to build in this superb location.
“There was a lot of interest, but the owners wanted to sell to a local family rather than to a developer,” says Mark. “We were so fortunate that they chose us, and we were able to build this special house for our family.”
The stunning home with its five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, several indoor and outdoor living spaces, two offices and a swimming pool has been custom designed for the needs of this family of five.
“A big part of the brief was to design a house that can grow with us,” says Mark. “Our kids are still young, but this is to be our forever home and we wanted to be sure that it is flexible enough to work for our family for a long time. There are spaces that can be used for visiting friends or family, for kids hanging out and some rooms we are not even using yet.
“Most homes have one or two rooms where you get a view. But we are effectively three frontages wide, so naturally, we asked the architects to maximise the view.”
The downstairs alfresco area connects the main house to the pool house – and is perfect for kids’ birthday parties or a barbecue with friends. The concrete sink next to the barbecue was salvaged from the laundry of the old apartment building. It’s just the right size to put beer (and bubbles) on ice at a party.
Architect Stuart Campbell from CKDS Architects was a perfect fit for the project: “We discussed it with three different architects but CKDS focus on high end projects and since Stuart has young kids himself, he really understood the needs of a young family and how to bring it all together from an architectural and a design perspective.
Read more in the Summer issue of Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine or subscribe here.
Story by Cornelia Schulze, photography by Murray McKean
