Inside An Art Lovers Dream Home Filled with Curiosities (House Tour)

Imbued with a sense of calm and tranquillity, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects creates a dream home that encourages contemplation. A neutral approach to materiality is complemented by an extensive art collection and sculptural furnishings, inspiring stillness and a sense of wonder for what lies beneath the structure’s outward façade.

Located in the coastal refuge of Balmoral Beach in Sydney’s Mosman, Almora House is a collection of unique spaces. The clients have resided in the house for over twenty years and have come forward with the brief to design an enduring, timeless, maintenance-free dream home that would accommodate their extensive art collection.

Almora House presents a distinctive shape that encourages a soft contemplation. The form of the house itself is organised around a spine that runs almost north-south — the structure stretching its way along this spine, with a series of rooms that push out into the garden, creating small courtyards. Various features throughout the home also encourage contemplation, particularly the bookshelf. Housed in the upstairs library, the bookshelf’s rear side is made of slightly frosted glass, becoming an alluring abstract composition seen from the dining room.

The spine design of the dream home creates an effortless sense of flow in its layout. Inside the front door, there is a guest bathroom and bedroom that open into a courtyard. As you walk south along the spine, the first of the living rooms, a dining room with double-height ceilings and a kitchen unfurl to the left. Beyond the kitchen is an informal room with four glass walls that open into the garden. Upstairs are the master bedroom and powder room, a study and a gallery.

Thoughtful choices surrounding materiality also create a dream home that embodies a poignant sense of calm and introspection. Glass is used to welcome the serenity of the surrounding greenery into the home. A concrete frame is used as a neutral material that showcases the art within the home and inspires calm.

Almora House reveals itself to incite tranquillity, stillness and retrieve from the constant movement of daily life. Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects perfectly balances an appreciation of practicality, art and craftsmanship to create a dream home that acts as a container of curiosities and a hub for the calm moments integral to being present in our fast-paced, modern world.

00:00 - Introduction to the Art Lovers Dream Home
00:29 - The Location of Almora House
00:44 - The Clients and The Brief
01:15 - The Organisation of the Home
01:55 - A Walkthrough of the Home
02:59 - An Enduring, Timeless and Maintenance Free Home
03:37 - Where The Spatial Richness is Derived From
04:11 - The Most Enjoyable Project for the Architect
04:46 - Favourite Parts of the Home

For more from The Local Project:

Photography by Brett Boardman.
Architecture and Interior Design by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects.
Build by Bellevarde Construction.
Landscape by Bates Landscape.
Structural Engineering by PMI Engineers.
Joinery by Square Peg Woodworks.
Videography by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Project.

#DreamHome #Art #Architecture

[kayelyward]

What is striking about the home is that no one particular place was designed for any one particular piece of art yet each piece of artwork fits so well in the places selected by the owner. The concrete ceiling is phenomenal. I love how it curves like fabric draped across the top of home. It's really spectacular. I also loved how large windows look out onto the surrounding gardens. It's a wonderful fusion of nature and the home. Beautiful home.

[playfullpanda]

i love how he explaining the wrong side of the bookshelf. It's inspiring how he could make a verbalization of it

[mrvk]

I love Brazilian modern architecture vibes through this house. It just feels right in that tropical environment. And I admire owners designing the house around their needs and hobbies.

[milaprskalo]

This is my favorite to date. This house is elevated to something greater than the sum of its parts, but retains its homeliness by being entirely personal, representative and reflective of its residents (finally). Congratulations to all it's amazing and fabulous.

[AB-oluz]

Very clear the clients were able to articulate their needs/goals very well, and very specifically. This is one of the best examples I have seen for how important art is in a home - particularly, appropriately scaled art. The average home couldn't handle most of the works in this home because of lower ceiling heights/smaller rooms - but in this home, the dimensions of the home overall, as well as the sight lines made it possible for large scale pieces and it humanizes what would otherwise feel like sterile spaces (at least some portions of the home). This also shows the importance of landscaping in grounding the building, providing inviting spaces to explore, and "enlarging" spaces even further by opening up those exterior sight lines.

[draztiqmeshaz]

It's busy, but in a cohesive way that is actually quite pleasing. Magnificent.

[LynnFyffe]

The moment you showed the interior, I was shifted into a calm yet intriguing world. There is so much more into this project. Every corner is so thoughtfully designed. My architect has suggested the same library shelving idea before I saw this video. Great mind works alike. Thank you for sharing.

[robthewaywardwoodworker]

So much going on and yet it seems peaceful at the same time. Intricate and yet soothing. Well done.

[rowmac]

Probably one of the most beautiful homes ever shown on Local Project.

[danaesquires]

I love the low key nature of this house. The use of the wood veneer, the tranquility of this house. wonderful..

[vickimaiorano]

What a stunning house with the artwork and garden in show. Beautiful roof/ceiling.

[AgentAO]

What a beautiful unique home.. it’s so full of character & the owner’s art collection was the icing on the cake.. ❤

[JH-njup]

So beautiful, the cherry wood tones with cement and all the modern art, I’m in love!

[jimmymurray]

As a dedicated stoner. I am continuously in heaven.

[Sailingbill]

Stunning!! Tim you created an architectural masterpiece! The combination of art, concrete and wood is incredible. The craftsmanship and wood Spot on! Wow!

[Max-mjcc]

A Masterpiece - the house, the art, the video portrait - fantastic!

[SereneRae]

This house is insanely genius, so beautiful.

[jasonswearingen]

This is my personal favorite. Stunning. Well done!

[Estherose_]

love the waves of the ceiling & many art pieces that suits a quieter busy life ...for me, would make the backdrop of books display frosted plus pastel coloured

[andrew]

Love the crime scene artwork by the front door