River of Life is a Light and Airy Sydney Home by Sandbox Studio
River of Life is a house designed by Sandbox Studio in Sydney in 2023. Nestled into Curl Curl, it celebrates an “open and connected modern liveability”. It balances double-pitched forms with the surrounding vernacular while presenting its own distinctive identity through material choices governed by a “sustainable spirit” and dedication to timeless design that honors the landscape.
River of Life by Sandbox Studio is a lighthearted canvas
The project is nestled into a coastal and residential area known as Curl Curl, or Curial Curial, meaning “river of life” in the local indigenous language, to which the house owes its name.
“The result emphasises the height and scale of the home, and together with a neutral and muted colour palette both internally and externally, an overall lightness elicits calm.”
River of Life pays homage with “double-gable” silhouette
“Designed intentionally for a young and energetic family, the role of the home needed to be one of recharge and reset,” said Sandbox Studio.
“The fluid and open approach to planning internally overlays a flexibility for the years ahead, connecting between zones and pushing useability out into the surrounding garden.”
Interspersed between longlines are textured concrete accents, including thin door and window frames, a grey brick chimney, concrete garden pathways and flooring, tracing the walkway from inside the house to the outdoor swimming pool.
Outdoor designs provided room for collaboration, supplemented by a fire pit and rock climbing wall, an assortment of garden furniture and curated greenery “integrated amongst the architectural elements and the hard and soft plantings”.
Beneath a hipped roof, a curved entry void shelters the main door, opening the house to large well-lit interiors in natural materials.
In the living space, accents like the pale-grey fireplace and grey brick mantle reflect natural light inward.
Additional statements include a “custom concrete staircase”, offset to the left of the entryway, framed by flag-like panes of glass that usher in sunlight while providing views of the garden from the inside.
River of Life intended to “capture” liveability and sustainability
“Together with other passive cooling mechanisms, the increased thermal mass of the concrete foundations assist in retaining heat, while also acting as a robust base for everyday family life,” said the studio.
“Able to be adapted to suit differing ages and functions, the flexibility in the planning is ideal for the anticipated years to come and the need to allow for separation and togetherness,” Sandbox added.
Materials like dark cupboard shelving, wood-burnt carpentry, an earthy-grey stone countertop and pale grey bricks accented a white-cream interior, contributing to a holistic “calm composition”.
This included wooden sofas and tan-upholstered chairs, a centred coffee table, outdoor stone furniture, cooking ware and organic-shaped plant-pots, framed beneath a high-hung ceiling.
“Every detail sensitively navigates the landscape, from the defined architectural linework to the sustainable features integrated throughout,” said Sandbox Studio.
Photography by Katherine Lu
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