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Deepwater Rd Castle Cove NSW 2069 Cook House, commissioned by David and Adrienne Cook on Deepwater Road, Castle Cove, was designed by the Sydney architect John James (b.1931) in the first four years of his Sydney practice. Drawings approved by Willoughby Council reveal that James designed the freestanding house in 1961 with plans approved in 1962. This is his first house in Castle Cove; James also designed a second residence in Castle Cove, the Denis Croneen House, in the following year. Stylistically, in its siting, design, planning and materials, the Cook House was originally conceived by John James as an mid-20th century expression of a regional modernism uniquely associated with the landscape of the Sydney basin with its sandstone escarpments, native bushland and challenging topography. James used the flat roof, cement-bagged masonry, timber structure, cladding and the generous glazing that now characterises many of the houses associated with Sydney-based regional modernism. Other regional practitioners of his generation include Russell Jack (Allen, Jack + Cottier), Sydney Ancher, Ross Thorne and Peter Muller. The low profile design, featuring wide eaves and large expanses of glass that allow each room a view of the surrounding landscaping, sits at the bottom of a rock shelf. The 761 sq m block enjoys direct access to North Arm Reserve and views over to Middle Cove. The house is accessed from the end of a shared right of way leading off Deepwater Road. From the carport, a winding labyrinthine pathway leads down to the house. Cook House was purposely designed to be hidden from the street and today mature landscaping enhances the original design concept further.

Deepwater Rd Castle Cove NSW 2069


Cook House, commissioned by David and Adrienne Cook on Deepwater Road, Castle Cove, was designed by the Sydney architect John James (b.1931) in the first four years of his Sydney practice.

Drawings approved by Willoughby Council reveal that James designed the freestanding house in 1961 with plans approved in 1962. This is his first house in Castle Cove; James also designed a second residence in Castle Cove, the Denis Croneen House, in the following year.

Stylistically, in its siting, design, planning and materials, the Cook House was originally conceived by John James as an mid-20th century expression of a regional modernism uniquely associated with the landscape of the Sydney basin with its sandstone escarpments, native bushland and challenging topography.

James used the flat roof, cement-bagged masonry, timber structure, cladding and the generous glazing that now characterises many of the houses associated with Sydney-based regional modernism. Other regional practitioners of his generation include Russell Jack (Allen, Jack + Cottier), Sydney Ancher, Ross Thorne and Peter Muller.

The low profile design, featuring wide eaves and large expanses of glass that allow each room a view of the surrounding landscaping, sits at the bottom of a rock shelf. The 761 sq m block enjoys direct access to North Arm Reserve and views over to Middle Cove.

The house is accessed from the end of a shared right of way leading off Deepwater Road. From the carport, a winding labyrinthine pathway leads down to the house. Cook House was purposely designed to be hidden from the street and today mature landscaping enhances the original design concept further.

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