Summersault House by James Garvan Architecture
Summersault House sets a clear rhythm in Sydney, Australia, where James Garvan Architecture reshapes a family house around light, circulation, and everyday rituals. Conceived for a five-person household in Bronte, the project stitches a restored Federation frontage to a contemporary core and a studio above an adaptable garage. The sequence leans on a tall atrium, polycarbonate cladding, and clean white interiors that move easily between garden and room.
Morning pulls a bright line across the terrace. From the garden, a white volume and slender pergola throw crisp shadows while the living room opens wide to the lawn.
The house is a family home in Sydney’s Bronte by James Garvan Architecture, organized around sequence and movement. A restored Federation face addresses the street, while a new core and a studio over the garage arrange daily life around a tall, light-filled atrium. The plan separates generations without severing connection.
Arrive And Release
Entry shifts to the side for a compressed arrival. A tight corridor turns, then broadens into the soaring atrium, so bodies feel the plan before seeing it in full. Ocean air threads through the opening, and daylight washes the stair and kitchen as an immediate cue. Edges soften under rounded corners and pale timber, setting a calm pace.
Atrium As Heart
The atrium gathers kitchen, stair, and circulation in one clear move. Vaulted and ribbed surfaces bend overhead, pierced by skylights that ladder sun across white balustrades and the curved island. Polycarbonate panels bring a milky glow, diffusing glare while guarding privacy from neighbors—light stays generous without hard contrast. Throughout the day, shadows drift, marking time more than decoration.
Rooms In Sequence
Adult and children zones part cleanly yet remain visually linked. The stair lands on a mezzanine edge, giving quick oversight to the kitchen below and easy routes to bedrooms and bath. Storage tucks under the run, and a quiet arch repeats in tile and mirror within the bathroom to keep the language consistent. The studio above the garage reads as its own address, ready for guests now and future needs later.
Garden Connections
At the rear, full-height sliders pocket away and the living room becomes a covered terrace. Beams of the pergola stripe the paving as the sun moves, while a ribbed outdoor bench and grill extend cooking into the yard. Planting rides the fence line to frame a simple rectangle of grass, leaving clear ground for play and dinners outside. The indoor palette stays light so greenery and sky do the work.
Old To New
Street side, the Federation frontage holds memory and scale. Behind it, the new volume sits crisp and white, set back so the composition reads layered rather than abrupt. Materials carry across with restraint: painted lining boards, pale timber floors, and modest metal rails keep texture readable without noise. The pieces meet around circulation, turning a family routine into the project’s organizing act.
Late light finds the kitchen bench and climbs the stair. From garden to mezzanine, the house moves in a gentle loop, tuned to changing days and long use.
Photography by Katherine Lu
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