Pipi House by Peg and Ray Architects

Modestly discreet, Pipi House presents as a concealed and private residence from its streetscape, opening generously to the rear to engage with its surrounding landscape and natural elements. Peg and Ray Architects conjures a restrained and carefully proportioned home amongst an animated residential setting, creating a calm retreat.

Despite its lively surrounds, Pipi House sits restful and quiet behind its solid and monolithic façade of darkened timber and masonry, protective and concealing. Located north of Sydney in Chatswood, Pipi House nestles itself into an established residential neighbourhood of similar proportioned homes, varying in heritage and individual narrative. As a means to create their own sanctuary of sorts, architects and owners Peg and Ray Architects propose a series of volumes that sit interconnected and privately obscured from the street. The formal approach on site speaks to a restrained contemporary influence, while also giving a prelude to the sense of journey and discovery to unfold behind the façade. Anchored and boldly confident, Pipi House awaits discovery.

Built by Mahony Group, together with joinery by Sydney Joinery, Pipi House is split over two levels and includes a dedicated home office. From behind its concealing front, the interiors open with an inviting warmth, where polished concrete underfoot provides a robust and resilient foundation for the happenings of any family home. A similar palette is brought from the external materiality inside, where it wraps each surface, becoming more tactile and detailed in areas. As intended, the home feels protected and calm through its open connection with the rear garden and landscape. Glazing and operable façade details allow the interiors to spill out naturally into the outdoors.

Split into wings, the portion of the home to the east presents with height and strength as the face of the home to the street, while the portion to the west opens to the rear and presents as a more transparent and approachable series of spaces. Careful articulation of controls and overhangs ensures solar, and heat gain is optimised and avoided as necessary.

The outdoor courtyard, pool and BBQ all facilitate and ease the family functions to transpire outside in an external space that is protected and private, part of the home itself. Transitioning between the open and closed places is marked by moments of pause, connecting and navigating the flow of movement through the home. These areas are imagined as a reset and as places of contemplation.

Through compression and release, Pipi House carves its proposal of balance. Peg and Ray Architects has created a purposeful retreat, which keenly reflects the architects’ needs and how they uniquely live.