Architecture studio Bokey Grant has completed EA House, a sculptural family residence positioned on the edge of a bushland escarpment in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia. Designed to respond to a challenging cliffside site, the 170-square-metre home combines a minimal footprint with fire-resilient construction while integrating closely with the surrounding landscape.
Located on the land of the Gundungurra people, the house occupies a 16,000-square-metre parcel that had remained undeveloped since subdivision plans dating back to 1890 determined the site was unsuitable for construction due to its steep gorge and cliff edge.
“The core concept was to design a home that was experimental and unique to its site,” said principal architect Jeffrey Bokey-Grant. “Something sculpturally integrated into the rock.”
Cliffside design minimizes environmental impact
Although the property is expensive, the buildable area proved highly restricted. Consequently, Bokey Grant adopted a compact planning strategy that reduced disturbance to the site’s native vegetation and wildlife.
“The environment was the single largest challenge of this project, but also what made it so engaging,” said Bokey-Grant. “Not a single tree was touched.”
The monolithic residence blends with the surrounding rock formations, while its two-level composition evokes both a lookout tower and a concealed bunker. Meanwhile, an 18-metre bridge connects a curved parking area to the entrance, drawing inspiration from the viewing platforms found throughout nearby national parks.
“National parks in the area are known for their lookout platforms,” Bokey-Grant said. “The bridge references ideas of that as the site looks out over a national park.”
Fire-resistant construction shapes the architecture
Because the site is in Australia’s highest bushfire classification, a Flame Zone, the house was designed to withstand extreme fire conditions through passive architectural strategies rather than manual intervention.
Accordingly, the structure uses concrete and brick construction, thickened insulated walls, Flame Zone-certified glazing, and timber windows and doors manufactured from fire-resistant timber, self-extinguishing hardwood (bulletwood) and fire-resistant glass. The design also eliminates gutters, reducing maintenance requirements before evacuation during bushfire events.
“There is no preparation work in case of evacuation,” said Bokey-Grant. “Combined with the significant levels of additional insulation and Flame Zone glazing, the house performs at a very high level passively.”
The home’s internal layout follows the same restrained design philosophy. An access bridge leads directly into a central corridor connecting two levels. The upper floor contains three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a flexible study that can function as an additional bedroom.
Each private space remains intentionally compact, framing controlled views and natural light to create a sense of retreat.
“The house is also about sanctuary, and about a young family living together in nature,” said Bokey-Grant. “The private and transitional spaces are humbly sized with controlled light and views, which creates intimate and reflective living.”
Below, an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area opens toward expansive views across the adjacent national park. A wood-burning stove subtly separates the living and dining spaces, while fire-resistant timber lines the floors, walls and ceiling to reinforce the connection between the interior and its bushland setting.
Furthermore, a sheltered outdoor terrace extends the living space into the landscape, reducing the distinction between indoors and outdoors.
“Low tech, it is a sanctuary from the outside social world, and can also sometimes be a retreat from the fierce side of the environment,” Bokey-Grant concludes.