Spencer Road is a contemporary family residence set on a 947.6 m² lot in Killara, completed in 2025.
The design negotiates a suburban context through a composition of sculpted volumes and a restrained material palette. A continuous, curving upper form — rendered in a smooth white finish — sits above a grounded base articulated by vertical timber slats and generous glazing. This deliberate contrast between soft, continuous geometry and finely detailed linear elements gives the house a calm, modern presence that reads both at a human scale and from the street.
Internally, the spatial arrangement privileges clear circulation and flexible living. Daytime activities are organised around an open living/dining/kitchen sequence that flows naturally to outdoor terraces and the landscaped front yard; private bedrooms and retreats are layered to the rear and upper levels for quiet and privacy. Large glazed portals and a north-biased orientation harness daylight while framed overhangs and recessed balconies moderate solar exposure. These moves create internal environments that are bright, well-ventilated and visually connected to landscape.
Materiality is simple and tactile: smooth stucco-like render, warm timber battens, polished joinery and expansive glass work together to balance refinement and domestic warmth. The timber battens conceal service zones while giving rhythm and texture to the façade; internally, soft, natural finishes reinforce a sense of calm.
Sustainability is embedded through passive strategies and considered detailing — cross-ventilation, daylighting, shaded glazing and careful junction detailing reduce reliance on mechanical systems. The landscape design reinforces native planting, soft edges and micro-climates that support biodiversity and outdoor amenity.
The Spencer Road residence demonstrates an economy of means: thoughtful massing, disciplined material choices and resolved detailing combine to produce a house that feels quietly contemporary and deeply rooted in place. It offers a model of suburban renewal — one that respects existing streetscape character while delivering a refined, sustainable family home worthy of recognition in this competition.