Rainbow terrace shaped like a rectangle shakes up Potts Point

Bringing joy to “the scruffy streets of Potts Point” is Smart Design Studio‘s vivacious variation on a terrace house.

In a two-volume new build, which takes advantage of a sloping laneside with northerly exposure to insert a central private courtyard, the main material, off-form concrete, and the big hits of colour, reflect the client couple’s admiration for Swiss architectural revolutionary Le Corbusier.

Australia’s most currently admired architect William Smart says the rubble-sandstone plinth, out of which the varicoloured facades arise to give the place such unique presence, was recycled from the site. It pays deference to the neighbourhood’s foundation stone, and deters graffiti creatives from adding to the scheme.

The house and studio office, with the separate apartment dwelling at the rear, is another of Smart Design’s structures that embodies what the architect calls “the simple idea of making a generous art work” – that fandango of a horizontal screen – “that pulls the whole house together”.

On an east-west oriented site of such urban exposure, the screen has many functions.

Yet as well as imparting “such a happy vibe to the house”, the five colours of the moveable louvres, “which you think are 10 because of the way they reflect on each other”, are all referenced from the nearby housing.

“In harmony with the colours of the area”, the shades all come from a heritage paint chart.

While it looks so of the moment, the house actually had a 10-year gestation and, to add even more idiosyncrasy to its story, was project managed and in some sections built by the commissioning couple.

“I was a bit nervous about how that might affect or compromise the quality due to mistakes or misunderstanding of the drawings, or by being cornered by subbies (sub-contractors),” Smart says.

“But they were very organised and very determined to get everything right.

“Our project architect, Jolyon Sykes, met with them every week, and they could be on the phone whenever they needed to ask about anything. As it turned out, they had an incredible attention to detail.”

What Smart calls “this fusion of art and architecture” suits the personalities of the owners.

“It’s a project that is very ‘them’. And that’s one of the loveliest things you can do as an architect, create a house that is an extension of the people who will live in it.”

See more at smartdesignstudio.com or find more amazing houses by downloading the Domain app. 

Brougham Place by Smart Design Studio Photo: Ross Honeysett

Brougham Place by Smart Design Studio Photo: Ross Honeysett

Brougham Place by Smart Design Studio Photo: Ross Honeysett