Award winning Glebe home breaks tradition
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Award winning Glebe home breaks tradition

A bold, white vision of modern design, this award-winning Glebe home breaks from tradition with futuristic curves, arched windows and a $5.5m price tag.

By Kirsten Craze
Fri, May 30, 2025 10:38amGrey Clock 2 min

Straddling Sydney’s city fringe and the inner west, Glebe is known for its architectural heritage and peppering of period terrace houses. 

This Ferry Rd house is none of that. Its a boldly white, contemporary residence that merges futuristic curves and striking arches. The adventurous departure from the neighbourhoods historic streetscape paid off for the innovative architects, snagging the top Australian design award. 

In 2020, Surry Hills-based firm Chenchow Little earned the Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture for Glebe House. 

Now the rare real estate find is on the market with Harriet France of Sothebys International Realty, set to go to auction on June 3 with a price guide of $5.5m. 

Tony Chenchow and Stephanie Little didnt have much to work with, just a small 374 sq m site surrounded by Victorian terraces and modern apartment blocks.

Their goal was to maximise the capacity of the tight block and create a functional, liveable space for a growing family. The result is a head-turning two-storey home with curves in all the right places. 

Unlike its traditional Victorian neighbours, number 38 is a modern marvel that is as remarkable as it is practical. The signature white-clad four-bedroom house is a grand design in a pint-sized spot. 

A dilapidated cottage on the site was demolished to make way for the award-winning home, which the architects crafted to be sympathetic to the existing built environment. The arched openings and windows have been created to pay homage to the grand portico entrance of the Victorian house next door. 

The ground floor houses the main living areas framed by vast arched windows and polished concrete floors. A multipurpose rumpus or work-from-home space features bespoke cabinetry. The Corian and oak kitchen has integrated appliances, and the open-plan lounge and dining room spill out onto a covered terrace and rock garden. 

There is also a concealed powder room and laundry, plus a store room all on the lower level, further showcasing the savvy use of space. 

Complementary to the external sculpted lines, a central curved staircase connects the two levels, while the double-height void allows for an abundance of natural light. 

Inverted-arch windows upstairs create a scalloped framework to capture the Anzac Bridge and city skyline views while providing privacy for the upper-level bedrooms and bathrooms. 

In the main bedroom, there is a shower en-suite with a skylight and built-ins, and the three remaining bedrooms share a full, family-friendly bathroom with a freestanding tub.  

Additional features of the Glebe property include off-street parking, underfloor heating, Sonos sound system, double glazing, ceiling fans, and air conditioning. 

Sitting less than 300m from the light rail and Glebe Rowing Club, the award-winning home is close to waterfront parklands, the eateries of Glebe Point Rd, as well as the University of Sydney and Broadway within easy reach. 

 

Glebe House at 38 Ferry Rd, Glebe  is listed with Harriet France of Sothebys International Realty, and will be auctioned on on June 3 with a price guide of $5.5m



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Property Of The Week: Pandolfini-Designed Home Features Sculptural Architecture

Crafted by Pandolfini Architects with interiors by Lisa Buxton, the Glen Iris residence pairs industrial-inspired design with refined contemporary living and a five-car showroom pavilion.

By Kirsten Craze
Fri, May 8, 2026 2 min

A bold architectural statement in Melbourne’s inner east, this unique Glen Iris home marries sculptural design with sophisticated family living in a remarkable real estate relationship.

Conceived by Pandolfini Architects, with interiors by Lisa Buxton, the custom-built four-bedroom, two-level home was crafted for its current owners but is now coming to market for the first time.

Listed via an expressions-of-interest campaign with Marshall White agents Rae and Hugh Tomlinson and Mandy Zhu, 8 Erica Ave is on the market with price expectations of $7.5 million to $8 million.

Its dramatic street appeal sets the tone for what’s to come, because beyond the contemporary façade sits a modern residence unlike any other.

Pandolfini’s team brief was to create an inviting home made from hard-wearing materials, with a palette inspired by ancient ruins and old industrial buildings.

The result is striking, cantilevered terracotta brickwork and a patinated copper-screened exterior that borrows hues from the classic neighbouring cottages.

One within the home, the Erica Ave property unfolds across three interconnected pavilions positioned along the deep block. Long gallery hallways are framed by floor-to-ceiling glass to showcase garden and pool views, making the most of the 886 sq m site.

Raw, heavily textured walls create an industrial aesthetic inside and out, while curious “upside-down” arched windows introduce a creative architectural twist.

At the heart of the home, the central living and dining zone is divided by a sculptural fireplace rendered in hard plaster. High barn-style spotted gum timber ceilings rise above bush-hammered concrete walls with Roman travertine floors, and American oak joinery.

In the marble kitchen, there are premium Wolf and Miele appliances, a butler’s pantry, an integrated study nook, and a bespoke curved window that wraps around a custom-made banquette dining space.

Walls of glass frame the north-facing terrace where a heated swimming pool and spa are enveloped by private landscaped gardens with an integrated barbecue setting.

Within the front pavilion, the large parents’ retreat features built-in and walk-in wardrobes, a dresser, and a travertine ensuite with a freestanding bathtub, rain shower, and a dual-marble vanity. Also on the ground floor is a second bedroom and a media room with a built-in daybed and a picture window overlooking the yard.

One floor up via the curved staircase with skylight, there are two more bedrooms with terrazzo bathrooms, study spaces, and leafy outlooks.

Car enthusiasts not only have a single lock-up garage on Erica Ave, but an additional rear showroom-style five-car pavilion or grand studio accessed via Irymple Ave. It has a high vaulted ceiling, a concealed in-floor Maha car lift, a workbench, and a sink.

Added extras include a mud room, laundry with side access, in-floor heating and climate control within the engineered European oak floors, deluxe joinery, and CCTV security.

The Glen Iris home is within walking distance of Central Park Village, Harold Holt Swim Centre, and Gardiner Station, as well as popular schools including Sacré Cœur, Korowa, and Caulfield Grammar.

The Pandolfini-designed house at 8 Erica Ave, Glen Iris is listed with Marshall White for $7.5 million to $8 million via an expressions of interest campaign.

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