Rosewood House

The site boasts incredible views of the ocean, beachside suburbs, and Wedding Cake Island to the south, while to the north, the home faces a busy street, beyond which lies Waverley Cemetery. In response to this, the main living areas have been located on the upper level, taking full advantage of the incredible south facing aspect, with bedrooms set on the ground floor for privacy. The lower ground floor is home to additional living areas, connecting to the private rear garden and pool area.

Acacia was commissioned to provide a suite of expansive floor to ceiling windows and sliding door units in Rosewood to complement the home’s design, take full advantage of the abundant natural light and maximise the views at the rear of the home. The large format windows at the front of the home are shielded by stunning sculptural timber screens, comprising of thousands of randomly arranged individual blocks, meticulously crafted by project builder Milestone Custom Builders. The screens act to filter views of the adjacent Waverley Cemetery as well as providing privacy for the bedrooms and the living area. At night, light penetrating the screens provides the home with a cosy, lantern-like appearance.

By nature of their sheer size, very large format windows and door panels do present a few additional challenges including the sourcing of glass, secure transportation, and installation of the units. In addition, the door and window units for this project were to be manufactured using double-glazed glass, in keeping with the sustainable design principles employed throughout the project. Double-glazing increases overall size and weight of the window units considerably. The largest individual glazed window for Rosewood House was to be 4.1m x 2.9m which, with double glazing, would weigh in at nearly 800kgs.

The steep, sloping block and limited side access added some logistical challenges for Acacia and the build team from Milestone Custom Builders, given the size and weight of the windows to be installed.

The Acacia team thrive on the individual challenges each project presents, and the challenges for Rosewood House were soon overcome. While specialist glass suppliers with the capability to produce glass panes of the required size are hard to come by in Australia, through our networks we secured a high-quality glass manufacturer based in Tasmania able to supply the oversized, double glazing for the largest window unit.

Given the immense weight of the window unit, a large overhead crane was used to lift the window from the transport vehicle. Once secured onto a trolley, the window was able to be rolled into position by the building team. Acacia worked closely with the builder to coordinate delivery dates and times for the various units, given the requirement for additional equipment to be available on site and the need for immediate installation.

Acacia's expansive floor to ceiling doors and windows provide the perfect frame for the breathtaking water views from this home in Sydney's eastern suburbs, and ensure the interior is flooded with natural light. Rosewood timber has been used to great effect throughout the home, imbuing the pared-back aesthetic with tremendous warmth. The overall effect is a serene, welcoming ambience that subtly references both the Japanese and Norwegian heritage of the owners.

The project was a finalist in the 2022 AIA Awards for Residential Architecture (New) and received a High Commendation in the 2023 Randwick Design Awards for Best House.