Chatswood home ‘Draped’ in beauty.

For owners Jonathan and Laura, the home was born from a design journey with nature at the core, allowing the surrounding trees and contours to guide its form.

“We worked with the beautiful existing gums and native trees on the land and designed the home around them so that they became a feature of the house itself,” says Jonathan. “The house steps down in line with the gradual slope of the land. Materials in the home were selected to reflect the surrounds and bring the outdoors in. The outside is visible in small glimpses and large vistas throughout the home.”

It’s layered with concepts you might find weaved into a rural weekender, where the site might be less restrictive. Here on more than 1000sqm in Chatswood, it just works.

Constructed in 2022, the home was awarded a Commendation for Residential Architecture at the NSW Architecture Awards in 2023 (garnering an array of accolades since then). From TRIAS architecture studio and built by Arc, the floorplan comprises two distinct wings that open to a central green clearing, preserving and celebrating the landscape.

“From the immediate view of the scribbly gum from the front door, to the soaring, curved ceiling throughout the living/dining and into the bedroom wing, and the solidity of the recycled hardwood timber sliding doors and windows that surround the home,” Laura says, “visitors are drawn to different spaces and features.”

The high, curved ceiling heightens the sense of scale, creating a generous atmosphere across a relatively compact footprint. A defining roofline gives the home its name - ‘draped’ not only in form but also in spirit. A tensioned shade cloth above the courtyard adds a second layer of softness and climate control, referencing the Australian patio vernacular while serving a functional role. Recycled timber defines the windows and doors; spotted gum warms the interiors. Compressed fibre cement forms the external shell.

“We love how hard the spaces work,” Laura says. “Almost every space serves multiple functions; there’s endless storage; the material choices, double-glazed windows and timber screens all contribute to the home’s climate responsiveness - and despite all of that, there’s an overall simplicity to the rooms and to the house itself.”

The layout supports this clarity of use. Living zones occupy the southern side, with bedrooms to the north. A carefully positioned threshold doubles as both a seat and a study nook. Ceiling fans circulate air through cross-ventilated rooms. A 10,000-litre rainwater tank services the garden, toilets and laundry. Timber screens mitigate western sun, helping maintain comfort without air conditioning.

“We love the soaring ceilings in the living/dining space and the expansive feel of those rooms,” says Jonathan. “The sunken bath has always been a luxurious, spa-like experience for us.”

Uncommonly, Draped House was approved through the Complying Development pathway - a fast-tracked approval route more commonly associated with repeat project homes. That it emerged from such a system with this level of sensitivity and finish suggests a new possibility for suburban architecture. 

“Building the house with TRIAS and Arc has been one of the best and most rewarding experiences of our lives,” Laura reflects. “We’re so proud of what we collectively achieved and what it stands for. We hope the house continues to serve as a blueprint for sustainable, considered living in Australian suburbia for the foreseeable future.”

“It’s a privilege to live in this home,” she adds, “and to experience the brilliance of architecturally designed and built spaces.” 

View the listing: 28a Greville Street, Chatswood