A monolithic dwelling with a commanding presence in its cliffside location, Cliff House is the result of a meticulous collaboration between architect, landscape designer, builder and
Eco Outdoor.
To create an exterior that had a weighted presence – countered by interiors that were softer but still exuded a sense of drama – Finnis and Lisa Ellis Gardens approached us with a vision: a natural stone that would dissolve the boundaries between inner and outer spaces.
Our neutral-toned Andorra limestone was the perfect response to that vision, chosen for its durability, timelessness and ability to age and patina gracefully.
The restrained and subtly flecked grey stone spans Cliff House’s floors and sweeping façade, complementing the home’s timber and polished plaster materiality while forging a harmonious presence in the landscape.
“One of the proudest moments of the house is the three-storey staircase that was hand carved out of Andorra limestone.”
Andorra’s adaptability is further championed in a custom three-storey staircase – featuring a laser-carved handrail fashioned by craftsmen from solid stone blocks – and a curved driveway that employs thin, elongated Andorra batons.
As architect Damon Hills explains, “The different formats and the consultation with the quarry through Eco Outdoor allowed us to apply the material to the façade as well as varying internal spaces. The phenomenal tilers, stonemasons and craftsmen have flawlessly executed the vision.”
In a pristine continuity of the tonal palette, our Arrowmill Technifirma was applied to the pool’s interior. With the look and feel of natural stone and high-performance capabilities for wet areas, Arrowmill is an impeccable aesthetic and functional companion to Andorra.
Successfully exploring the boundaries of material mastery, Cliff House achieves a considered cohesion through its generous use of stone. The Finnis vision for a carved stone monolithic building and Lisa Ellis’s landscape concepts all landed on the Andorra stone. The seamless material selection was pushed to its limits and all disciplines worked together to deliver a flawless result.