Ivory Arc St Ives
Situated in the leafy suburban landscape of St Ives on Sydney’s Upper North Shore, Ivory Arc is conceived as a study in curvature, light, and continuity. Surrounded by established gardens and mature trees, the house responds to its setting through softened forms and a calm material palette.
The architecture is composed of gently rounded volumes wrapped in ivory-toned brick. Rather than sharp edges or abrupt junctions, the building is defined by arcs and subtle radii that allow the surfaces to flow continuously around corners and openings. This approach gives the house a sculptural quality while maintaining a quiet presence within the residential streetscape.
The architecture is defined by curved walls and deep arches formed from a continuous palette of light-toned brick. These elements give the building both weight and softness, allowing the facade to read as a carved mass rather than a layered assembly of materials. The repeated arches establish rhythm across the elevation while framing moments of shadow, planting, and light.
Arrival to the house is intentionally choreographed. A narrow bridge crosses a shallow reflecting pool and passes through a central arch, creating a gradual transition between the public street and the interior of the home. This sequence slows the approach and introduces the architectural language that continues throughout the project.
Planting is integrated directly into the architecture through built-in planters along the upper terraces. Vegetation spills over the edges of the brick forms, softening the geometry and allowing the building to evolve with the landscape over time. The relationship between masonry and planting creates a dialogue between permanence and growth.
At the rear of the site, the architecture opens to the garden and pool. The brick arches continue here, framing outdoor living spaces and creating sheltered thresholds between interior and landscape. The house shifts from a more composed street presence to a series of open and connected spaces facing the garden.
Verona explores how a restrained material palette and careful geometry can create architecture that feels both grounded in its suburban context and timeless in character.