Our designs have a certain air…a status. They are for clients who want to state their appreciation for refined aesthetics in a subtle way…a lasting way.
“It was our intention to get people to think outside the square, so to speak. While many people find contemporary homes ‘cold’, we have combined colour, texture and scale to ensure that does not happen,” said Michael Sasso, who designed this house for Aspect Homes. “Our designs concentrate on ‘livability’ while making a statement about lifestyle.
”This home sets itself apart from the Bella Vista Waters estate in north-west Sydney, which alone is a very modern yet luxurious development, with shops, offices and leisure facilities all close to the many impressive properties.
The residence has all the essentials for a stylish house — a home theatre, swimming pool and purpose-built barbecue area, as well as an open-plan family/meals/kitchen room, a studio, three bedrooms and a guest bedroom with ensuite and a separate laundry. By using an eclectic mix of construction methods, materials, colours, textures and scale, the traditional methods of construction, planning and way of life have been questioned.
“It is very much an open-plan house with little barrier between inside and out,” said Michael. “The external areas are part of extending the internal spaces in all aspects of living” — allowing inhabitants to experience the evolution of day and night, indoor and outdoor.
When designing a contemporary home, Michael claims we must “protect our diminishing natural resources”, and staying true to this, he has incorporated incredible efficiency with extensive overhangs, heat-absorbing flooring, cooling water surfaces and cross ventilation. The house also contains energy-efficient glass and retractable shading systems.
The way the home has been built, around a steel structure, was vital for getting the look the Sassos wanted, inspiring thought and reassessment of traditional suburban design. Michael’s wife and business partner, Penny, also played a role in the home — she was involved with the interiors.
“The style is modern contemporary, which shows how lightweight-type construction and traditional building methods can be integrated to form something unique,” said Michael.
“The use of a steel structure to minimise the external visual aspect of structure and bulk is the key to this design; built any other way, the same building would look and feel so different.
”Finishes include a freestanding Bette bath and Villeroy & Boch bathroom fixtures, CaesarStone benchtops in the kitchen, along with drawers by Blum and appliances by Ilve and Miele.
The process was project managed by Aspect Homes, which specialises in domestic design and construction as an all-inclusive service.
The company has won more than 30 awards since it began in 1982, including the Home of the Year from the Housing Industry Association awards as well as many for interior design. Aspect Homes can design houses to be built in any location, and also project manages for the Sydney area.
