28 Malvern Road, Leura, NSW 2780

The Wilkinson Award-winning Leura House, designed by James Stockwell in 2008, integrates architecture and nature within the Blue Mountains. The five-bedroom, L-shaped house features rammed earth walls, reflecting the cliffs of the region. The walls act as passive solar elements, retaining heat in winter and staying cool in summer, embodying both functional and aesthetic elements.

The house’s spatial design is inspired by the Japanese concept of ‘discontinuous unity’, creating fluid but distinct spaces with hidden doorways, changing ceiling levels, and mass variations that evoke the feeling of a bushwalk. The core of the house comprises communal areas, such as the kitchen, dining, and living spaces, which open onto a deep verandah. The innovative rotating blade roof allows light control, ensuring sunlight during winter and shade in summer.

Surrounding the house is a 1.45-acre garden with two distinct areas: formal gardens featuring rhododendrons, salvias, roses, and lavender, alongside a gully with native bushland regenerated by the owners. The restored gully includes a mountain spring and walking tracks, enhancing the natural landscape.

Additional sustainable features include 20 photovoltaic panels, a 100,000-litre water tank, and hydronically heated floors. Environmental considerations extend to natural ventilation and passive solar strategies, ensuring the house is energy-efficient.

The house combines modern practicality with playfulness, featuring a little hidden room and a light-filled loft that can sleep up to 12 people. Its meticulous construction, led by builder Gerald Verhoeven, won a Master Builders Association Award in 2008. 

At the property's entry stands Karoola Cottage, a two-bedroom home built c.1908 that features an updated kitchen and bathroom while retaining heritage details such as the original stove, timber walls, and sash windows. This charming cottage serves as a perfect guest house, offering a quaint and nostalgic counterpoint to the modern design of Leura House.

We look forward to welcoming you to Leura House, a standout example of Australian design excellence that combines thoughtful design, sustainability, and connection to the landscape.


Full design story and image folio at modernhouse.co

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SPECIFICATION:

Main Residence: Leura House
5 Bed, 2.5 Bath, Study, 2 Car (DLUG) + Studio & Loft
Approx. gross internal area: 400 sq m / 4,305 sq ft

Second Dwelling: Karoola Cottage
2 Bed, 1 Bath
Approx. gross internal area: 84.5 sq m / 910 sq ft

Block:
Approx. gross land area: 5,887 sq m  / 1.45 acres

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PROJECT TEAM:

Leura House
Designed and Built: 2003–2007
Architect: James Stockwell Architect
Design Architect: James Stockwell
Structural Engineer: Professor Max Irvine
Landscape: Craig Burton & Michael Bates
Builder: Gerald Verhoeven
Photography: © Brett Boardman
Cottage: © Emma Hamblin

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AWARDS:

2008 AIA NSW Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture - Houses (New)
2008 AIA National Architecture Award for Residential Architecture - Houses (New)
2008 Master Builders Award

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Full design story and image folio at modernhouse.co
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VIEW BY PRIOR APPOINTMENT:
MODERN HOUSE ESTATE AGENTS 1300 814 768
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Leura House presented by Modern House: the specialist estate agency for architect-designed residences.
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