Black Vespa Home

Located in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill, Black Vespa Home by Stafford Architecture – so called for the black Vespa that the owners proudly display outside – is defined by the way it embraces and is inspired by the surrounding treescape and glimpses of Sydney’s iconic skyline. As a result of this approach, the home features enormous areas of glazing and lightwells, with interior courtyards, private patios, and a screening timber facade that obscures the interior from passersby to maintain privacy for the residents. The palette is defined by natural materials – think raw brick, natural stone, and swathes of timber. Tongue & Groove engineered European oak timber flooring in the Freado colour creates an elegant backdrop for the interior, with its natural cool tones and textured finish reflecting the beauty of the tree-filled vistas. “Honesty in materiality played a central role embracing the integrity of each material and drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of the treescape encapsulating the site,” says architect Bruce Stafford. “When you’re inside, you just want to feel like you’re outside.” This warm, natural palette and the oversized Grande format of the timber flooring also helps to balance the impressive scale and volume of the architecture. Ephemeral textiles soften the architectural lines and filter the dappled light, creating an interior setting that truly celebrates the site.