The House Hunter: A modernist masterpiece in the north

The most striking aspect of this house, aside from its sheer size, is its modernist design. While I'm not normally a fan of timber, wood panelled ceilings speckled with downlights are one of the home's most appealing features, and it is almost reminiscent of Walter Burley Griffin's landscape architecture in Castlecrag.

Some parts of the home haven't been updated, but the house's strong design elements excuse this. When you walk into the foyer, you'll know this is a serious house – you're faced with a wide staircase scaling three levels, with a tall chandelier acting as the focal point. The interiors marry exposed brick with timber finishings and dark, moody slate flooring.

My favourite room is the billiards room, which features a snazzy wet bar with shelves and cupboards for plentiful booze storage, an in-built darts board, fireplace and furnishings that are a little cool in feeling.

The home sits on a steep rockface, looking down onto a park and tennis courts. The house has a more serene atmosphere than the conservative Federation homes a few kilometres west. And, aside from the tiny East Killara shopping strip, the suburb doesn't have much commercial life, which means that this house feels as though it’s in a secluded part of the northern beaches rather than the upper north shore. Well, if not for the wide, leafy streets – the north shore's hallmark.

Read more of Monica Kovacic's local architectural musings at The House Hunter