Sold by Jonathon De Brennan 0422 033 837
Renault House designed in 1969 by Harry Seidler & Associates Architects with alterations & additions by Snell Architects 1997
Renault House is located in the prestigious enclave of Castle Cove on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. The house was commissioned by the restauranter and vintner Madame Jeanne Renault in 1969.
Overview:
Facing due north and high along the ridge line, Renault House commands panoramic views of Middle Harbour. Using an H-shaped plan, the rational planning provides generous public and private zones for formal entertaining and informal family life. The alterations + additions by Snell Architects provide a near seamless extension of the original design. Mira Martinazzo’s landscape design features a 14-metre pool enclosed by a pillared wall of Arabascato marble.
Design Features:
The floor tiles, which flow from outside to within and down through the vertical space, are quartzite from the Norwegian island of Alta.
Glazing was a key design element of Renault House and there are many examples of floor to ceiling glass with the top edge angled to abut the ceiling.
The carefully calibrated design of the formal living and dining rooms provides direct access to the dramatic cantilevered terrace with expansive views of Middle Harbour.
The formal living room features the signature fireplace designed by Harry Seidler & Associates Architects which is positioned for effect.
The half ellipsis dining table in high polished Riverina granite is a feature of the formal dining room. The dining room retains the original cantilevered and backlit sideboard made with the same Riverina granite.
A private study overlooks the Martinazzo landscaped garden courtyard with established native grass trees. The light filled study features the original Harry Seidler & Associates designed cantilevered cabinetry and signature onyx glass sliding doors.
A private guest bedroom with ensuite is orientated to the north.
A fully equipped Miele kitchen with teak cabinetry and Italian Paradiso granite floors opens to the large family living room.
The kitchen/living spaces offer magnificent views over Middle Harbour and direct access to the Services courtyard.
The Wine Cellar is located off the central stair.
Lower-Level Living:
The lower level offers three well-proportioned bedrooms. Two of which have in-built Burmese teak study desks and overlook Middle Harbour and the pool.
The north facing private master bedroom offers stunning views over Middle Harbour and the pool. The master ensuite features a vaulted glass ceiling, an Italian Paradiso granite bench top, and a hand honed shower floor in the same granite.
The generous family bathroom is located on the lower level.
Cinema room with individual seating for six and featuring LED wall lighting and “floating” paradiso granite side tables.
The large lower-level family room opens directly onto the fully tiled Bisazza 14m swimming pool.
Adjacent to the pool is a level landscaped and grassed area
Utility:
Generous garaging for two cars with level house access with further access to the services courtyard and family kitchen/living areas.
A full-sized laundry is located off the kitchen complete with custom made floor to ceiling pull out storage drawers.
A large storage room is located on the lower level.
Zoned ducted air conditioning/heating.
Castle Cove offers close proximity to Sydney’s CBD and Chatswood.
The Lower North Shore offers a large selection of quality schools with excellent transport links to schools on Sydney’s Upper North Shore.
In Summary:
Renault House captures the romanticism of Sydney Harbour’s beauty by careful siting. Dawn brings natural light deep into the interiors animating shadows that shift with the hours and seasons. Rational planning provides generous public and private zones for formal entertaining and informal family life. The carefully chosen palette of materials, stone, timber, white bricks, and generous glazing are consistent with the career work of Harry Seidler & Associates and illustrate the practice’s embrace of the principles of 20th century modernist design.
Architectural Photography: © Simon Whitbread
Architectural Copy: Michael Bogle, PhD, Design Historian
Contact Jonathon De Brennan on 0422 033 837 for further information or to arrange a private inspection.
** All information regarding this property is gathered from sources we consider to be reliable, however we cannot guarantee or give any warranty to the information provided.
