Claremont House is a Private Inner City Sanctuary

Claremont House is a contemporary home designed by Keen Architecture for a young man and his girlfriend.

Description by Keen Architecture: With a push for higher density living around busy activity centres, many larger blocks are now being subdivided into smaller lots. This centre lot in a row of three recently parcelled lots had its challenges but ultimately allowed for the creation of a modern architectural centrepiece.

Our client wanted a house to entertain friends and family whilst having the ability ‘lock and leave’ it with his busy lifestyle. In terms of an investment, he also wanted to maximise the sites yield so we worked extensively with the adjoining neighbours and council to push the envelope.

What evolved is a house that looks inwards to the outdoors. A central courtyard allows north light to flood into the the heart of the home and creates a core where both the kitchen lounge area spill outside via bi-fold doors. All the living spaces become one harmonious open space. As a feature, we hand selected the deciduous Bradford Pear to be a focal centrepiece of the Claremont house and soften the crisp modern form.

The double storey north facing glass link connecting the two areas soaks up the sun and warmth and spreads it throughout the house. The tinted glass also bounces a soft light back on to the adjoining two storey wall to brighten up a potentially dark southern wall.

To the street, a feature timber screened balcony off the master suite dramatically punches though the steel portal frame. The timber box has built in bi-folds which open to views of Claremont but can also be a private retreat.

The dramatic flying roof form provides shade to the ‘entertainers delight’, a large open roof deck (engineered to take a future spa) which takes full advantage of river views to the south, the City to the east and hints at the ocean beyond the Norfolk Pines to the west.