Luigi Rosselli Architects completed Emerald Sound in Coogee on Australia’s eastern coastline, where steep sandstone cliffs descend toward the Pacific Ocean. The house overlooks a narrow bay known for its clear emerald waters and year-round swimmers. Homes climb the surrounding slopes in layered terraces that resemble an amphitheatre facing the sea. Divers often encounter the Blue Groper here, a large wrasse native to the region. The fish, known for its vivid blue-green scales, provided the central inspiration for the renovation of a 1970s trophy home overlooking the bay.
HOUSING
The project addresses a house that offered solid construction but suffered from poor spatial planning. The clients work in the glass recycling industry and approached the project with a clear intention to reuse as much of the existing structure as possible. Luigi Rosselli Architects developed a strategy that corrected the original design faults through targeted interventions while preserving the core framework of the building. The architects aimed to adapt the house carefully and extend its lifespan through selective transformation.
The ground floor previously devoted much of its area to a driveway and garage, leaving little room for inhabitable space. The architects reorganised this level by introducing a ramp that connects directly to a large basement previously left underused. This move released the ground floor and allowed the space to function as a secondary living area connected to a courtyard garden. The courtyard forms the visual and spatial focus of the level. Its walls feature teal blue chevron mosaic tiles that recall the shifting tones of the Blue Groper’s scales. Under direct sunlight the tiles appear vivid blue, while shaded conditions reveal a deeper green tone. The colour changes create a vibrant surface that frames dense subtropical planting within the courtyard.
Visitors encounter this garden immediately upon arrival. A large pane of glass reveals the main stair beyond the courtyard entry, creating a layered view between exterior planting and interior circulation. Brass details and a woven feature screen define the staircase. Each morning, residents descending from the bedroom level experience a transition that feels like stepping directly into the garden, echoing spatial traditions found in tropical pole houses and elevated dwellings where living areas connect closely with vegetation.
The bedrooms occupy the upper level of the house and enjoy broad views over the bay below. The master bedroom suite required additional privacy and shelter from coastal weather conditions. Luigi Rosselli Architects addressed this challenge through a reinterpretation of the veranda. The architects designed a covered glazed enclosure that protects the suite while preserving visual connection with the ocean.
A system of curved vertical glass louvres forms the enclosure, developed in collaboration with Tilt Industrial Design. These louvres allow the space to open fully to the outside, capturing sea breezes and warmth from the sun. Mechanical gears and chains link the louvres together so that they move simultaneously during operation. The entire system relies on high grade stainless steel components and UV resistant materials designed to withstand the demanding marine environment.
The architects originally planned to reuse glass panels from a conservatory that once occupied the living area. The tempered laminated glass however proved unsuitable for recycling. The team then sourced emerald glass through the clients’ neighbour, the owner of Australia’s largest glass manufacturer. Craftspeople custom cured and tempered the glass to produce the desired colour. Sunlight reflects across the surface with a shimmering effect that recalls fish scales, reinforcing the marine inspiration behind the project.
Interior finishes emerged through collaboration between Atelier Alwill and the homeowners. Emerald accents appear in tile selections and sanitaryware throughout the house. These colours interact with American walnut joinery, aged brass hardware, and stone tiles in warm sandy tones. The materials establish a calm interior atmosphere while connecting the home visually to the colours of the bay and surrounding cliffs.
Emerald Sound demonstrates how careful adaptation can transform a dated structure into a contemporary coastal residence while preserving much of the original building. Luigi Rosselli Architects reshaped the house through spatial reorganisation, marine-inspired materials, and a precisely engineered glass system that responds to the conditions of its Pacific setting.
