The Local Project - Corbel House - September 2025

Thrilled to see our project “Corbel House” featured in The Local Project. “Corbel House” was designed for a lovely family of five who dreamed of a contemporary, light-filled home on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

With teenage and young adult children, our client wanted a home that would adapt as their family matured, while reflecting their deep love of design - particularly modernist architecture. Their waterfront block was magical but challenging: a narrow strip of land, steep slope, difficult site access, and strict council requirements.

As a Sydney architect used to working with complex sites, we turned to history for inspiration. Drawing on the mediaeval ‘corbel’ - a stepped form supporting weight - we designed a three-level, fully electric family home with a compact 75 sqm footprint that expands into 245 sqm of generous living space.

The corbel concept preserved the natural landscape while creating a bold architectural identity. Inside, bespoke elements - a curved steel staircase, concrete kitchen island, brass-detailed joinery, and floor to ceiling windows - bring everyday delight.

‘Corbel House’ shows how history and contemporary design can merge to create a sustainable, modern family home that feels both personal and enduring.

A wonderful article written by Brad Scahill for The Local Project using the photographs by Justin Alexander.

Big thank you to our team:
Builder: PMD Build
Concrete: Wardle Construction
Joiner: Interex Custom Joinery
Engineer: Partridge Engineers
Joiner Windows: Shamrock Joinery

Occupation - Bondi - August 2025

Earlier this year we completed our latest Bondi project and we are thrilled that our lovely client has moved in to enjoy their stunning family home.

This bespoke design showcases materials that thrive in Sydney's demanding coastal environment. The carefully chosen timber cladding and robust concrete structure aren't just aesthetically striking - they're engineered for longevity against salt air and coastal weather.

As Sydney architects with a long track record of coastal residential design, we understand that beachside living requires thoughtful material selection and climate-responsive architecture. Every detail, from the timber screening to the structural elements, reflects our dedication to creating homes that age beautifully while withstanding Sydney's every-changing coastal conditions. Building and designing for resilience is key.

Thank you to our client for entrusting us with their dream home and a big thank you to our team for making it come to life.

Construction: PMD Build
Joinery: Interex Joinery
Electricals: Vesh
Concrete: Wardle
Structural Engineering: Partridge
Landscaping: Even Spaces

Lead Architect: Nick Bell
Project Architects: Caleb Burke and Martina de Nadai

Construction Underway - Bronte - July 2025

Very excited to have started building on site with PMD Build for our wonderful client.

We had the pleasure of designing a modern extension on their previous home in Bronte - so it’s fabulous to be working with them again. This property is a unique location and we can’t wait to show you the progress.

Copenhagen - 3daysofdesign - June 2025

Hello from Nordhavn, Copenhagen. It is one of the districts featured in the annual 3daysofdesign - where the city opens up to design lovers to experience innovations from furniture to fittings and beyond. It was awesome! Design is valued in Copenhagen - you can see and feel it everywhere.

Nordhavn is an interesting new development - declared the model for the ‘five-minute city.’ It has put community and people at the heart of its urban planning - everything must be in walking distance. It blends old and new, industrial and residential - there are plenty of outdoor areas and sustainable and social living is at its core. They have also cleaned up the harbour so residents can swim….sauna….swim.

It was a pleasure to walk around the streets and a joy to visit the offices of BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group.

Construction Update - Bronte - May 2025

Digging deep on our Bronte project. Heritage elements are retained while maximising space by creating a new basement level - with PMD Build.

Photography - Clovelly Bungalow - April 2025

A very big thank you to our wonderful client for allowing us to come and play in her new home. We had a lot of fun putting the shots together and our gratitude to Justin Alexander for capturing the architecture and design details in his photography.

Thanks also to the following lovely businesses and suppliers who helped us:

Lighting | Euroluce

Art | Curatorial and Co

Linen | Cultiver + Co

Dive into the photos of Clovelly Bungalow here.

Discovered on Co-Architecture.

Design Development - Longueville - March 2025

Maximising your land space with long term thinking is smart. We have designed this addition to a heritage home in Longueville. Our lovely client wants to create a generous self-contained space to be enjoyed by family and friends. It needs to blend with the surroundings and also meet our client’s love of contemporary design. Sketchup and Enscape - 3D modelling make the design come to life.

Construction Update - Bondi - February 2025

Although this image of the rear facade may not look it, we are getting very close to completing our project in Bondi.

A new build, this contemporary home will be loving hub for a young and active family - just moments from the vibrancy of Bondi Beach.

Big thanks to PMD Build, our construction partners on this project - you’ve done a wonderful job!

Occupation - Clovelly Bungalow - January 2025

A very big thank you to our lovely client for giving us the opportunity to work with her on the creation of “Clovelly Bungalow”.

We love the distinctive frontage that pays homage to the California Bungalow, a style of architecture established from the 1920s in Sydney’s Eastern beach suburbs. Using concrete and timber cladding, the home ready to weather the salt and sea environment.

A big thank you to our team and all the suppliers we worked with on this project. Will be publishing the images on the Projects page soon, but in the meantime enjoy this photo by Justin Alexander.

Architect Project Team
Poppi Denison and Nick Bell

We have a new home - December 2024

We’ve skipped over to Redfern and have landed in a gorgeous new office! Soaring ceilings, original detailing of 1930s Inter-war Georgian architecture and surrounded by coffee, art and design - happy days! Needless to say, our team has settled in quickly and we look forward to welcoming you.

There is street parking and there is also free parking at Surry Hills Village which a quick 5 minute walk.

Nick Bell Architects
12/17 Thurlow Street, Redfern
Our phone number remains the same 02. 9699 3572

Photography - Corbel House - November 2024

Corbel House, with its waterfront position and unique medieval features was a delight to photograph. Justin Alexander did a wonderful job at capturing the detail and the space. A very big thank you to our clients for letting us come in and play. You can see all of the images in our Projects portfolio.

Construction Underway - Bronte - October 2024

We have broken ground on our new project in Bronte! With heritage frontage existing, we are working on a new contemporary space in the back for our family to live and grow. Phil from PMD Build managing the construction - let’s do this!

Design Development - Bronte - September 2024

The big reveal! Excited to be showing our client the design development for their new home. Located in Bronte, the home is set back from the street, it’s quiet and calm. This is the first floor and has a bit of a pavilion feel - the architecture is all about opening up and inviting in the light and breeze while maximising opportunities for outdoor living.

Using Sketchup and Enscape for our 3D modelling is a wonderful way to not only show our client’s how a design will look, but when you pop on the virtual reality headset - you are transported into how the design and home will feel. Happy days!

Site Visit - Suffolk Park, NSW - August 2024

With the DA approved we are all systems go to start construction on our client’s coastal home in Suffolk Park. Such a gorgeous part of the world! And wonderful to be able to visit. Looking forward to showing the progress soon.

Design Development - Darlinghurst - July 2024

Creating space and inviting the light - two areas of focus for our new inner city project in Sydney’s bustling Darlinghurst. This two bedroom home, in its original state was dark and divided - typical of terraces from this era. This design development image captures our intent - to open up the house, create areas to gather in and out - and enjoy the light and let the air flow in!

Construction Update - Clovelly -June 2024

Our client’s home is coming together - we love this stage of a project. The front facade shows varying materials - off-form concrete, brick and timber - ideal for its coastal position.

The build is going well and we look forward to showing you the completed home in the next few months - onward and upward!

Thank you for the photos Josh - you are a multi-talent indeed!

DA Approved - Mosman - May 2024

We always let out a big cheer when one of our designs gets its DA from council - it’s a significant milestone in the process of building a home and must be celebrated! We are thrilled for our lovely client - Mosman Council has approved their new home - it is on a corner position in a heritage area - so there were a few considerations to be made.

Onward and upward!

Occupation - Sailors Bay House - April 2024

A home and a resort in one. Sailors Bay House is a multi-storey family home where living the good life is fully embraced. Built on the waterfront in Northbridge, the home takes advantage of its expansive views from every room with extended terraces. Designed for entertaining, the home features a pool and poolroom, cinema, cellar with tasting chairs, large open plan dining, lounge areas and a gym. A home to enjoy across the generations.

Thank you our client and to Jakin Construction.

Photography - CDC House - March 2024

Photographer, Simon Whitbread teamed up with stylist, Holly Irvine to capture some shots of CDC House in Rozelle.

The roof is a major feature of the design - giving a distinctive form from all angles, inside and out. The home, designed for a young family of four, enjoys open plan living on the ground floor, with a dining area defined by its double height ceiling. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms are on the upper level - these are uniquely shaped, taking in the angles with skylights that beam and bounce the natural light.

Thank you to our wonderful client and to MJH Building and team.

DA Approval - Bronte - February 2024

Our clients and team are thrilled to have the go-ahead to start building this beauty in Bronte. DA Approval from Council is always a good day.