Architect: Yvonne Haber Architect
Builder: Oneup
Location: Bellevue Hill, NSW
Set on a steep, fragmented site in Bellevue Hill, the project began with a modest brief to extend the garage and add a lift, but soon expanded into a broader reworking of the house and its outdoor spaces. Disconnected terraces and past alterations were replaced with a series of stepped outdoor zones that connect naturally to the internal living areas, including the existing above-ground pool, which was retained and integrated into an upper-level terrace.
The site’s extremely soft ground required a piled foundation system to transfer loads to more stable layers. Pile locations and capacities were carefully coordinated with the architectural layout to ensure stability and alignment with the design. Excavation for the garage and terraces was complicated by soft soils and an adjacent stone wall, requiring a substantial retaining structure and careful construction sequencing.
Unexpected elements, including a buried swimming pool and large concrete remnants, were incorporated into the design rather than removed, with piles and reinforcement adapted to maintain load paths. Heritage constraints further limited interventions to the building’s exterior, so structural solutions were resolved largely within the existing envelope.
Partridge worked closely with the architect and builder to deliver a structural framework that supports the home, terraces, and landscaping while responding to the site’s constraints. The result is a property that now engages seamlessly with its landscape, with safe, stable, and functional outdoor spaces that complement the architecture.
