Designed by Central Coast architect John McKinney (now retired) with the assistance of Angela Elliss, this large waterfront home is located across the water from Palm Beach in Wagstaffe. It is a 90 minute drive from Sydney's CBD but only a 15 to 20 minute ferry trip from Palm Beach.

Main features

The design of the dwelling was oriented to capture views over the entrance of Brisbane Water (the northern arm of Broken Bay). The style of the design was influenced by Frank Lloyd-Wright during his "arts & crafts" phase.

The development consists of three completely separate buildings which incorporate common themes in the use of wood, roof colouring and strong lines. In addition:

• The main residence has 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and a separate guest suite, secure parking for 2 cars, and a "Porte Cochere" off the main entry.
• The property also has a separate "tree-top studio" further up the property which has been designed in the same style as the main residence. Complete with beautifully raked ceilings the studio has filtered water views through the gum trees and comes complete with a kitchen and bathroom and it's own car parking area.
• The "boat house" is really a small self contained two-level cottage only a few metres from the water. It is set-up to accommodate six people and was designed to look similar to the traditional architecture of the area, a weatherboard cottage.

The windows are a work of art in their own right and are made of beautifully detailed oil finished rose wood; once again influenced by the arts and crafts movement.

The property features a private jetty and deep-water mooring. These are increasingly difficult to come by due to new development controls which do not permit new moorings in the area.

Additional features of this stunning property include:

• Exclusivity: the home is one of only six within a gated community
• The home faces north, thus maximising the use of natural light
• The house is naturally warm in winter and cool in summer, due to the use of thermal massing (read more below)
• An extensive solar system provides hot water and electrical power, with excess power being fed back into the grid
• Heated lap pool and large covered spa
• At low tide the property has a beautiful, and private, sandy beach

Thermal massing

The house is constructed on a concrete slab, which is in direct contact with the ground. This helps regulate the temperatures in the internal spaces of the home; they are cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

The dwelling's external rendered double brick walls are in direct contact with the ground slab and provide the same thermal effects as the slab.

The lounge area has large north facing windows and a tiled floor. When the sun penetrates these windows the heat is absorbed into the tiles and slab, radiating heat out into the room during the evening. The tiles are were purposely selected to be a light colour; darker colours absorb heat rather than reflect it.

Northern orientation

Most rooms in the house are oriented to north to maximise the use of natural light. To maximise the use of natural northern light, light-wells have been incorporated for those areas oriented to the south.

The family room does not have northern sunlight penetration but receives warmth from the use of thermal massing. The family room also has a fire place and fantastic views over the water.

Shading

The roof provides a minimum of 900mm overhangs over all windows and doors. Standard overhangs are 600mm.

On the west side of the main residence pergolas have been incorporated into the design to offer shading to internal spaces. The pergolas prevent the sun from penetrating into the outside paved areas. Transpiration from deciduous vines on the pergola offer a cooling effect during the summer.

Low ecological footprint

The house has a surprisingly low ecological footprint for such a large structure. Photovoltaic cells (solar panels) provide between 3KW to 25KW of electrical power per day. Hot water is provided by a solar hot water system. 50,000 litres of water is stored in under-lawn and hillside tanks for gardens, pools, ponds etc. Average town water usage per day in the house is 600L, less than the council guidelines of 750L for the resident family of 2 adults and 3 children.

Local attractions

The home is a 5 minute walk from Wagstaffe wharf where the Palm Beach Ferry can take you to Sydney's Northern Beaches inside of 20 minutes. Pretty Beach School (K-Y6) is within a safe walking distance (or a very quick bike ride for the kids). Box Head National Park is 100 metres away and has a lovely walking track all the way to Killcare. Wagstaffe's quaint little shop, next to the ferry-wharf, is also conveniently close by (5 minutes walk).

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