House Stedall

Drawbox was commissioned by Paul Stedall to design his home within the Hills Eco Estate. The design was driven primarily by the client's specific needs and the unique qualities of the site. While every site has its distinct characteristics, this particular one posed unique challenges and opportunities, requiring the design to balance the client's desires with the full potential of the land.

Paul, along with his wife Cyntia and their two daughters, envisioned a family-friendly home with a contemporary design that would incorporate clean lines and abundant natural light while retaining a warm, inviting atmosphere. Passionate about cooking—particularly making pizza—and spending quality time together, they wanted the kitchen to be the heart of the home. From here, the living spaces—such as the lounge, playroom, dining area, and patio—radiate outward. This radial organization not only minimizes the physical distance between key areas but also reduces the scale of the spaces, enhancing the feeling of intimacy and homeliness.

The material selection played an important role in bridging the gap between sleekness and comfort. The use of timber and darker hues in select areas contributed to a warmer, cozier interior. The home’s design gives the impression that the first-floor structure rests lightly on the ground floor, creating a greater ceiling volume beneath. The articulation of the ceiling planes also helps distinguish the spaces, which enhances the perception of intimacy.

The site slopes significantly from east to west, particularly towards the end, where the land drops abruptly into a wetland green belt that extends northward. This challenging terrain presented both design difficulties and opportunities. One such opportunity was the creation of a semi-basement level to accommodate the garages and a guest room. Traditionally, garages often disrupt spatial flow when located on the same level as living areas, but by placing them on the lower level, the design allowed for a more open and connected layout for the living spaces. The client also wanted to utilize the flatter area to the east for a children's play area. This arrangement allows the living area to serve as a bridge between the natural wetland and the cultivated lawn, seamlessly connecting the two landscapes.

While conventional wisdom suggests limiting western exposure to reduce solar heat gain in the summer, the potential to capture views of the green belt could not be overlooked. To mitigate solar gain while maximizing the view, we cantilevered the first floor (bedrooms) over the west façade, creating a covered patio space below. This challenging engineering feat was achieved using a steel frame structure in the form of a 'vier-en-deel' truss, combined with lightweight extruded polystyrene walls, which offer excellent insulation properties and are quick to construct. Additionally, movable timber screens and a pergola were added to the west-facing patio to shade the glass and control sunlight throughout the year. The screens can be adjusted to filter sunlight depending on the time of day or season, while the pergola helps soften the transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, blurring the boundaries between them.

The entire first-floor structure was clad in thermo-treated ash wood, which requires minimal maintenance. The use of wood highlights the lightness of the structure and celebrates its natural beauty. Over time, the wood will naturally weather to a silver-gray patina, symbolizing both the passage of time and the structure’s inherent durability. Rather than rejecting the aging process, the design embraces it, celebrating the home’s evolving character.