House of the week: Architect-designed bolthole in bushland offers sweet escape

When you visit Pitt Point House on Scotland Island, you may encounter a trio of invisible but welcome guests.

The first is the north-easterly breeze that knocks several degrees off the mainland temperature, providing respite in Sydney’s summer heat. The second is the late architect Ken Woolley, who designed the house for our third invisible guest, Brian Pettit, co-founder of iconic building company Pettit + Sevitt.

Woolley’s penchant for invention while delivering homes in harmony with the Australian bush is present in every corner and every curve of every room.

The 30-year-old house, still in mint original condition, could have been built last year, so avant-garde is the design. It comprises soaring timber ceilings throughout and open-plan living spaces, zoned via the careful placement of a built-in cabinet and a staircase leading to the upper level.

Pettit’s presence is felt in the quality of the build. His “no expense to be spared” approach saw the magnificent cathedral ceilings built in first-grade Oregon by German craftsmen, large expanses of glass employed to frame the glorious Pittwater views, and bedrooms sized to easily accommodate a king bed and sitting area.

The main bedroom takes pride of place facing the waterfront, while the two remaining bedrooms, each with en suite, are located in a separate building on the south side of the back terrace, providing ideal guest accommodation.

Pettit’s brief to Woolley saw the inclusion of a substantial and innovative office space on the upper level of the main residence, which could be converted into a fourth bedroom if desired.

The all-white kitchen has breakfast bar seating at the oval island, chunky laminate benchtops, Miele and Blanco appliances and a walk-in pantry. There’s also a custom-fitted bar with easy access to the front terrace, the best place to sit and enjoy Pittwater.

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The property, which is for sale through Modern House’s Marcus Lloyd-Jones with a guide of $3.8 million, comes with a deepwater jetty and mooring. There’s also a slipway, a working boat shed where the current owner builds his own boats, and an inclinator.

“We believe Pitt Point is the most bespoke of Ken Woolley’s one-off houses,” says Lloyd-Jones. “It is in near-original condition, which makes the house an even rarer discovery.”

The property is an easy and uplifting eight-minute boat ride from Newport.

See more of Pitt Point House here. Download the Domain app for more listings in spectacular positions.