Daniel Boddam
Urban Sea House
Nestled in the prestigious enclave of Balmoral, with uninterrupted harbour views across to Sydney Heads, Urban Sea House is a dialogue between metropolitan refinement and coastal serenity. The residence, conceived for international clients, explores a restrained palette of black and white, softened by the natural textures and organic forms of its coastal context. This duality forms the cornerstone of the design narrative.
The design focuses on breaking up the tall, monolithic form through contrasting material layers. The residence rises from a sandstone base, characteristic of the area, with a stepped façade accommodating terraced gardens. A white rendered mid-section with Mediterranean influence and organic curves contrasts with the upper realm—a simple black timber-clad pavilion creating a minimalist lookout that recedes from the street front.
On the first level, the master bedroom is a retreat with expansive sea views. A curved oak veneer bed recess creates a sense of enclosure and warmth, while custom bedside tables and an upholstered bedhead integrate with the wall plane.
The master bathroom features a custom stone vanity and bath in travertine.
The guest bedroom opens to a private courtyard sanctuary with a Japanese-inspired garden, where the upper-level pool edge gently overflows – the sound of the waterfall adding to the serene atmosphere
Entry through the kitchen reveals a silver travertine bench with striated tones of grey, caramel and sand, sitting on a sculptural brass base – a nod to Brancusi's sculptures. The kitchen island serves as a spatial and social anchor—positioned at the midpoint between front and rear living areas, it captures framed water views while maintaining visual connection to the rear pool.
From the terraced back garden, the black-clad minimalist lookout using Australian hardwood becomes an elegant enfilade – framing the uninterrupted vista from the sharp-edged lap pool through to the living spaces and harbour views beyond.
I wanted to create a sense of calm and connection to place. Given their frequent international travel, the residence needed to function as a sanctuary—a space that immediately signals arrival home.
Project Details
The design focuses on breaking up the tall, monolithic form through contrasting material layers. The residence rises from a sandstone base, characteristic of the area, with a stepped façade accommodating terraced gardens. A white rendered mid-section with Mediterranean influence and organic curves contrasts with the upper realm—a simple black timber-clad pavilion creating a minimalist lookout that recedes from the street front.
