New home · Manly · Completed 2008
Bow House
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New home · Manly · Completed 2008
The brief
Perched on the low side of Bower Street in Manly, this contemporary home overlooks beautiful Shelly Beach. Bright sunshine and panoramic beach and ocean views demanded a design that could match the extraordinary setting.
Local planning controls required the house to sit below the crown of the road, so special attention was given to the roof design and front entry. The result is a ‘fifth facade’ of subtle level and material changes that generates visual interest from street level without competing with the views.
Internally, this home has all the luxuries of a five-star hotel — each suite has its own balcony and ensuite. The outdoor terraces and alfresco areas are perfect for entertaining, and the semi-circular wet-edge pool is a centrepiece that lights up on warm Manly evenings.
Features
The street facade below the road crown — designed as a subtle fifth elevation
Panoramic ocean and beach views from the living terrace
Concealed double garage integrated into the lower facade
The semi-circular wet-edge pool and deck overlooking Shelly Beach
Open-plan living opening to the views
The design thinking
The planning constraint — a building height below the road crown — that might have felt limiting became the design’s defining move. By stepping the building down the slope, every level gained uninterrupted views over the rooftops to Shelly Beach and the Pacific beyond.
The semi-circular pool references the curved bay below, creating a dialogue between the architecture and the natural setting that frames it. This is a house that earns its place on one of Manly’s most coveted streets.
Inspired by this project?
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