He knocked down a $45m house – but luckily he’s allowed to rebuild

It argued these placed an “unacceptable” impost on the natural environment, including fauna and native plants, as well as “scenic qualities” and Indigenous cultural heritage.
Archaeological investigations at the block found a tula adze, an ancient tool for woodwork and butchery.
David Droga’s plans for a new house in Tamarama have received permission to go ahead.Credit: Luigi Rosselli Architects
Council contended that soil conditions indicated more objects may be found.
Horton visited the address, saw a prototype of the cocoons, and ruled the structures were suited to the site and to be made from materials from the old Lang Syne home.
Their undulating shape would support the surface growth of flora, as they became salt and sun bleached, and surrounding landscaping would “visually fuse” with the natural environment, he said.
“The relevance of these cocoon structures to the consideration of this matter is that the Council and its experts regard the vertical form of the cocoon structures to be domineering when viewed from the coastal walk and contribute to overshadowing of this important public space,” Horton said in his published decision.
Lang Syne, the former house on the Tamarama site.Credit:
“The coastal walk is a well-known foreshore path that meanders along clifftops, beachfronts, headlands and other topography along the eastern most extent of Sydney. At points, it is also the site of cemeteries, sculptures, parks and other public places.”
Any overshadowing would be “moderate”, Horton decided and, in considering heritage and visuals, ruled the design would not have the adverse impacts put forward by the council.
“For those reasons set out earlier, just as I do not find the proposal ‘menacing’, neither do I find grounds for it to be ‘confronting’,” Horton said.
“Instead, I consider the proposal highly responsive to its context, and in no way detrimental to the heritage significance of those conservation areas in the vicinity of the site.”
This story was first published at domain.com.au.