“The following examples show that homeowners in Australia — be it Sydney, Melbourne, or somewhere in between — really appreciate their outdoor spaces and the dry climate that enables them to be an extension of the indoors.”

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1078375?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery34&w=550749

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Here is the link to the article:

http://smh.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/changes-captured-the-views-20120120-1q8xh.html

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We received a very nice Christmas present on the 23rd of December with the approved by Waverley council of the renovation of the house perched on the cliff edge at Vaucluse. The existing self contained top floor apartment is to be retained, with minor modifications, and the two levels below is replaced with a new house.
The design responds to the spectacular views and extreme conditions that exist perched on the top of the 35m high cliff at Diamond Bay, Vaucluse. A projecting living room wing takes advantage of the views north along the coast to North Head and creates a courtyard that is protected from the southerly and easterly winds.
There is a wet edge pool that will provide the visual transition from the ground to the water from the house.
We are starting documenting the house and look forward to what will be a very interesting construction process.

The house was designed to take advantage of the views across Blackwattle Bay to the Anzac bridge with the floors raised on each level to use every millimeter of height to see over the nearby terraces. The changes in floor heights also opens up the basement to be used as an extra level at a later date.

The builder, Matrix Additions, should have the house finished in two weeks ready for the clients to move in for Christmas.

Trees have been removed and pruned and a view of the harbour has been opened up from all the living areas.

We are looking forward to it being completed and enjoying a gin and tonic on the balcony with the owners.

The proposal is to add a new level with a master bedroom suite and a large covered deck and to create a courtyard style living level. The site is a bush block on the ridge in Middle Cove, in the lower north shore of Sydney. It has great views south across the valley to the city in the distance.

The images are of the existing building and the, now approved, extension.

Middle Cove House

We had two mobile cranes blocking three lanes of Elizabeth Street in Surry Hills from 7am to 3pm on Saturday. The cranes were needed to deliver two glass sheets roughly 3x4m and to remove all the demolished concrete and blockwork from an apartment fit-out in the top floor.

Watching the bags of rubble 7 storeys in the air made me wonder how much care the Indian worker takes as he sews the bag together when they are being sold here of $11 each.

Ironically, it was the $800,000 crane that broke rather than the bags and a larger replacement was called in to finish the job.