Curves ahead

or Pia Francesca, a tree change certainly didn’t mean leaving city sophistication behind. The interior designer’s inimitable mix of sleek and soulful pieces with a collection of global treasures has translated perfectly from her former pied-à-terre (featured in August/September 2017) to this monochrome abode in the Southern Highlands. Luckily a friend alerted us to a new listing knowing we were searching in the Southern Highlands. We arranged a viewing, and gasped as we approached the black gates and sweeping driveway. We committed on Longer than ever hot summers in the city had lost their appeal and following a very fast sale of our Darlinghurst apartment we considered where else we would happily live. Located high up on Mt Gibraltar we experience four distinct seasons with only an hour and a quarter’s drive to the city, so our business lives can continue when commuting is necessary. The house is unexpectedly modern for the Highlands and being set on an acre provides plenty of outdoor living and space for our dogs. It was absolutely complete when we bought, so apart from adding a 900mm-wide black Smeg oven and extra dishwasher in the butler’s pantry nothing further was required. Now we are happy just planting more trees. Underfloor heating is a must (we have burnished concrete floors with hydronic heating), huge ‘Eco’ double-glazed picture windows and doors to let the sun stream in, plus low-maintenance finishes especially for when the dogs bring in their ‘presents’! The original owner was influenced by the Aesop showroom in Kyoto, siting the cantilevered black box at the top of the rise to expand the views (to Sydney on a clear day, especially in autumn and winter when the trees shed their leaves). The scale and design of the house with all-white walls was perfect for our existing furniture and artworks, so much so that 24 hours after we moved in it looked as though we’d been here months. I am not one for living with lots of colour but recently, with winter looming, we added a deep saffron-toned ‘Malawi’ rug from Armadillo to add a layer and complement the orange armchairs, which unexpectedly reflect the maple tree in full autumn colour. Obviously the Enzie spiral staircase and double-height curved wall is a living sculpture in itself but I love the cantilevered glass boxes that allow us to just sit and contemplate. With ceiling heights of 2.7 metres and full-height doors and joinery the house just flows. Nothing is jarring. A huge plus is the fact that all the bathrooms have no wall tiles but floor-to-ceiling Marrakesh render. The full-height windows incorporate glass louvres for great cross ventilation, all with essential fly screens! Thus we rarely need the air-conditioning in the kitchen area. I need to live and work in an uncluttered space, with tons of natural light, generous spaces that allow flexibility in furniture layouts and the ability to layer as the seasons change. The black glass box floats off the ground with the white base anchoring the structure to the slope, with a green vertical wall providing privacy at the rear with established trees – golden ash, maples and clipped hedges – surrounding the property. The architecture is unique in its setting and looks like an entry in British . Often we are in thick mist due to the altitude and storms are spectacular with views extending to the northeast. Autumn is my favourite season as the leaves turn colour and create brilliant ground coverings. Each space has its individual use – I love waking to the solitude viewed through floor-to-ceiling glass in the mornings (except for the birdlife heralding sunrise); preparing food in the open kitchen while guests sit in front of a roaring fire; the intimate reading room and guest space for a quiet refuge; or gathering on the private terrace in summer. The timing could not have been more perfect. We have not missed the city since moving and with COVID hitting we witnessed the mass exodus of people leaving the city for just this sort of life.