Practicality meets art in this stylish three-storey home on a steep site. Long before construction began, a cherry picker was used to scope the outlook to guarantee impeccably positioned windows with picture-perfect views. The interior was always going to be an art gallery, given the owners’ extensive collection, so extra nogging was added to hang larger artworks or multiple pieces.

Other additions include a future-proofing lift shaft, built-in roof ladders for maintenance, and upper-storey sliding windows doubling as fire escapes. The classic red barn design is modernised with durable brick and low-maintenance vertical aluminium weatherboards, softened by existing mature trees and exterior timber landscaping features.

The custom-built fl oor-to-ceiling front door opens into a multi-functional 317sqm home that allows one wing to function as a separate apartment for returning adult children. The upper level provides a private retreat, complete with library, lounge, art room and ample attic storage.

The house enjoys passive and active solar gain – eight roof-mounted panels feed a 2.08kW photovoltaic system that puts surplus energy back into the grid.