18 Burrawong Place, Barragga Bay, NSW 2546

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW CUSTODIANS OF SPOTTED GUM HOUSE.


Hidden in the forest, just a few minutes’ walk from an almost private beach, lies one of Peter Stutchbury’s earliest houses, and one with which he has had a long association. Five hours’ drive south of Sydney, Spotted Gum House was built in 1984, soon after he graduated, for a Canberra jazz musician and his wife. It has been in the family ever since.

Stutchbury’s affinity for the environment, as well as his sensitive and elemental approach to design are already clearly in evidence in the 1984 pavilion, which originally was commissioned as a holiday house. Almost thirty years after the house was built, Stutchbury designed a second pavilion for the site to allow for more accomodation and bathrooms for guests, and to address the practicalities of the house working as a permanent residence.

The 1984 pavilion has open plan living, kitchen & dining, casual sleeping area (currently study) and bathroom; the pitched roof has been pierced by a raised, smaller upper storey and clerestory containing a special bedroom space for a lucky guest. The main bedroom is at the end of the building, past the banks of louvres one arrives in the bedroom space that can be opened on three sides. This is a very special room. The expansive deck on the beach end of the living area extends the interior outwards. Most meals are served on the deck under the spotted gum canopy of the forest that the architect describes as, “a vertically columned room of changing smells, sounds, light and weather conditions – a feast of emotional and spiritual experiences.”

The 2014 pavilion has a multi-use studio, living/guest bed, plus additional bathrooms, workshop, carport and a 60,000 litre water storage tank. Closer to the road than, but adjacent to the original building, it serves almost as the public face of the property, rather like a gateway to the more private dwelling, with a walkway connecting the two. The sweeping form roof of the new pavilion has a poetic reference to the birds and allows a 360-degree view of the tree canopy.

The power and beauty of the forest is magnetic from all parts of the property. Birds abound, lyrebirds, whipbirds, Wonga pigeons, bowerbirds, yellow robins, monarchs and thornbills, and a great array of migratory birds, including many species of honeyeaters and cockatoos. Wallabies graze under the gums. And in the background, the sound of Barragga Bay Beach calls. We look forward to welcoming you to this very special place.



Full design story and image folio at modernhouse.co

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OPPORTUNITY:

For those seeking a peaceful and fulfilling way of life, enjoy the wonderful outcome of a design story over two generations, and just a 3-minute walk to a virtually private beach.

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SPECIFICATION:

• 3 Bed, 3 Bath, 2 Car (Carport)
• Internal area (approx.) 166.5 sq m (1,792 sq ft)
• Land area (approx.) 2,555 sq m (12,7502 sq ft)

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PROJECT TEAM:

Spotted Gum House
1984 Pavilion
Architect: Peter Stutchbury Architect
Builder: Sterling Primmer with local builder

2014 Pavilion
Architect: Peter Stutchbury Architecture
Builder: Dave Funston, and carpenter, Justin MacDonald
Photographer: © Greg Primmer

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SIGNIFICANCE:

Two pavilions, 30 years apart, both designed by one of Australia’s leading architects. Both designs are beautiful examples of Stutchbury’s stellar career path.

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PUBLICATIONS:

• 1984 Pavilion – Peter Stutchbury, Pesaro Architectural Monograph by Philip Drew
• 2014 Pavilion – never seen before

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Full design story and image folio at modernhouse.co
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VIEW BY PRIOR APPOINTMENT:
MODERN HOUSE ESTATE AGENTS 1300 814 768
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Spotted Gum House presented by Modern House: the specialist estate agency for architect-designed residences.
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