New Jersey Fullagar Residence by Stephen Varady Architecture

The Fullagar Residence is a considered exploration of the suburban house located in 22 fiona avenue, wahroonga, nsw 2076, Sydney. The design of the Fullagar Residence demonstrates another way to define ‘house’ with 1,260m² site area, 350m² internal floor area, 110m² garage + workshop decks and 95m² pool. while using conventional construction methods and materials – concrete, brickwork, timber framing and fibrous cement.

Since Michael Fullagar is a builder, the design and construction was a collaborative process, with no detail construction drawings required. The design provides a comfortable, spacious house, incorporating strict passive solar principles, while also exploring more sculptural and artistic ideas.



The form is a composition of intersecting rectilinear elements, inspired by Kazimir Malevich’s ‘Arkhitektons, with a dramatic overlay of colour, inspired by the teachings of Joseph Albers and Johannes Itten - perhaps more in the spirit of Australian artist Jeffrey Smart than Fred Williams.




















By breaking the exterior surface into smaller coloured panels, the scale of the house has been visually reduced. By painting the panels in different colours the facade becomes an exploration of colour theory while also being a response to the notion of ‘fitting in’, through the use of four different ‘natural’ tan colours. The bold red pool is use as a highlight and counterpoint to the overall composition. The same red acts as a counterbalance in the centre of the house on one wall of the stair.




















Internally, the use of colour is further explored through the placement of blocks of colour on the white walls and ceilings, rather than painting a whole wall, ceiling or room in the same colour. This approach creates an alternative definition of space, and blurs the distinction between walls and ceilings and between the idea of a wall and a canvas.



photographer: stephen varady + john gollings

Finally, the Fullagar Residence is a house designed for its occupants. The design has taken their needs and desires and shaped a house around those. A house that is practical and comfortable, but one that is also attempting to critique the notion of house, and in particular, the Sydney suburban house. This house dares to say, here I am, and I am different... and I am very good, even though I'm different...