Iron Maiden House | CplusC

Shortlisted in the 2018 World Architecture Festival and Houses Awards, Iron Maiden House is located in Sydney’s lower North Shore and draws on it’s local context and history to create a unique contemporary home.

ron Maiden House was designed for a family of five who wanted a home which celebrated Sydney’s climate. The design delivers generous rooms which flow to inward facing outdoor areas at ground level, while an elevated external corridor connects the children’s bedrooms, enabling the children to build their independence while enjoying private green space. 

Solar access underpins the planning and orientation, while the flowering of creeping plants along the external skin provides seasonal nuance. The distinctive cladding is a nod to the iconic Australian vernacular material, while the form is a modern re-interpretation of the gable houses typical of the area. Conceptually, the privacy and beauty of a natural gorge, in which water cuts through rock to form secluded spaces, was replicated with overscale walls to generate the final form. The simple shape was extruded lengthways along the site and sliced down the middle with a pond to form a central axis. Slender, cathedral-like spaces were formed around this central thoroughfare with ponds running parallel to walkways to link the spaces.

The home aims to elevate everyday activities. Occupants are encouraged to pause and enjoy the view through a large window near the spiral stair and generous stair treads which meet nearby walls, forming a place to sit. Each room has a view through green space into different parts of the house. The sophisticated use of levels within the home creates distinct yet akin spaces.