Kiora House: Rethinking modern living the duplex way

Living next door to a sibling may not be everyone’s cup of tea however, sisters Alexandra  and Gemma recognised the benefits of creating a forever home to accommodate both their  families far outweighed the negative.  

With the affordability of housing in Sydney on the decline and rising financial costs, the  sisters started to explore alternative options and struck upon the idea of duplex living.  Increasing their buying power by joining forces was not the only motivator, the sisters  realised it was an opportunity to create new memories together as an extended family living  side-by-side.  

Venturing into a new build can be stressful at the very best of times, however, having a  sibling to lean on, collaborate with and a shared vision for the long-term made this build a far  easier process. The sisters worked together to ensure each house would accommodate the  needs of their individual families, deliver on their agreed design aesthetic and meet their  modest budget. 

Following council refusal of a design by an alternative designer, the sisters approached  award winning builders Futureflip with a brief to create two four-bedroom family homes with a  contemporary box-modern facade and pools on either side. The redesign was sympathetic  to the block located in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire; it met their relatively modest budget whilst  giving the sisters the modern lifestyle they were looking for in their forever homes. Signature  Futureflip features were included throughout the modern design including, flush connections,  high ceilings and oversize windows to draw in the natural light. 

“The block was challenging to maximise the land to its full potential; we had a tight build size  of 374m2 with a significant downward slope that faced into the Western sun. The incline  presented us with both design and engineering challenges as we had to consider the  driveway grade and building height restrictions. We are accustomed to working with sites  that are not typical and in designing for a sloping block, careful consideration needs to be  given to the façade of the build as it can easily appear disproportionate. The Hardie™  external cladding range is a natural fit for modern builds like this where design does not  need to be comprised, regardless of the location,” explained Neil Hipwell, Director of  Futureflip.  

“We considered elevating the duplex, yet this would have increased the cost of the build and  reduced the owners’ privacy. We had to create a clever design that would negate both these  issues, minimise the environmental impact on the space, address the brief to create a  modern silhouette and ensure council approval,” added Neil. 

The duplex contrasts with neighbouring properties, the stunning white exterior comprises of  multiple textures to create impact. Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding was used for the second  storey cladding ensuring a cohesive appearance from the road. The smooth, natural sand  texture provides a crisp, neat finish that perfectly frames the box shape of the build. Linea™  Weatherboards were used to give character to the facade and contribute to the build’s  modern coastal aesthetic, the look and feel of weatherboard without the maintenance adding  to their appeal.

Axon™ Cladding was used at the rear of the property overlooking the alfresco space. The  shiplap joints and clean vertical lines creating a seamless connection between the house  and outdoors, complementing the stepped decks leading to the pool area.  

“There is an art to finding balance when using a mix of materials to build layers of texture  and design features for a façade. We intentionally married the different exterior profiles  using the same paint colour to create cohesion across the build,” Neil commented. 

It was clear from early conversations with Futureflip, Alexandra and Gemma understood the  value of engaging a bespoke designer and builder to create a home that would meet their  unique needs, including build space and entry level budget without having to compromise on  their modern design.  

“At Futureflip, we’re passionate about creating beautiful homes, making an architectural  finish that is affordable and achievable for our clients. Hardie™ exterior cladding products  give us the creative scope and freedom to deliver this within our designs. Clients like  Alexandra and Gemma are a perfect example of how communities and families can stay  together, they are encouraging designers to think outside the box and consider architectural  solutions that can make this happen. If the last few years has taught us anything, spending  time with family is invaluable and, in this case, a sister is a little bit of childhood that can  never be lost,” Neil concluded.