dwell. on the Northern Beaches

Latest developments.
By MARTIN KELLY
New Year’s resolution
becomes Newport reality
Like so many other people, architect and developer
Mark Hurcum awoke on New Year’s Day 2017 and
decided to change things up.
His resolution was to swap the house he had lived in
for 15 years and move to a new abode and lifestyle on
Pittwater.
The good news is that, unlike so many other failed
New Year’s resolutions made early that year, Mark
delivered on his vision.
It has been quite the process, but the
result, Mitala Newport, is more than worth
it – four beautiful homes tucked in the
trees on the shores of Pittwater.
“I went looking for a house for myself
on Pittwater and found a whole paddock
basically,” he tells <strong>dwell</strong>.
What he bought was a 3600 sqm block
over two titles with an old house plonked in
the middle, owned by the same family since
the 1950s.
“It’s just a magic site, an amazing piece of Pittwater.
It’s between the two yacht clubs, and they’re here for a
reason because it’s the most protected part of Pittwater.”
The site had a few development restrictions but a lot
of freedoms as well.
“As an architectural challenge it was exciting and
interesting.”
One of the main development requirements was
to mimimise the impact on the remnant gum forest
which surrounds and frames the four properties.
“We worked around the trees and let them determine
the form and shape of the buildings to some extent
which is the reason they fit in so nicely,” Mark says.
He adds it was liberating to work independently
rather than being at the whim of clients, although as
developer the design had to meet the market.
‘On a site
like this there
are different
microclimates.’
“Doing four houses meant I could really maximise
how to live on the entire site – all the issues of
community, privacy, environment – which you can’t
normally do in a single house.”
Typically, many developers work on the cookie
cutter approach, applying a core design across the
entire site because of time constraints and costs.
“But on a site like this there are different
microclimates and it was important each
house relates to its specific environment,”
says Mark, who has been designing homes
in Sydney for the past 30 years.
“They share some similarities – their
palette and materials for example – but
the way they respond and work with sun
and light and space is different.
“I think that’s one of the things people
find when they walk in here – each house
is really well thought out and individual.
“If you are doing good design, it should relate
exactly to where you are. It’s a far more enjoyable way
to work and creates a real richness and sense of place
and space.”
Mark and his wife Linda, who work together
at MHDP Architects, now live in one of the two
waterfront houses and absolutely love it. Their dream
matches the reality.
Time for you to make a resolution?
There are still two properties available at Mitala
Newport: the second waterfront house (complete with
jetty and boat house, pictured main + kitchen) is for
sale with a price guide of $10 million, while one of
the two street-front houses is also on the market with
expectations of $5 million (pictured living room).
If you’d like to arrange an inspection, call Nick Vuko
from Domain Residential on 0416 029 417.
42 July 18, 2020 <strong>dwell</strong>.sydney