Welcome back to Behind the Facade, your backstage pass into the personal stories that shape the homes we love.
This week, we take you behind the bold geometry of 67A Windsor Road, where architect Blake Letnic has crafted a home that feels more like a statement. Triangular gables rise like sculpture against the sky, while arched steel windows and tactile brickwork set the tone for a family home designed to be seen, felt, and lived in.
Part of Blake's 'Dulwich Hill Duo' project, this home represents an unconventional approach to the traditional duplex development. Instead of mirrored twins, Blake gave each duplex its own distinct personality. For 67A, that meant designing a space to support a growing family of six, including four boys whose boundless energy would test every material and spatial decision.
"They wanted a home that improved how they lived day to day," Blake reflects. "They were keen to explore local materials in a contemporary way, blending that with their own backgrounds and ideas. That made it special. They were very open-minded"
The breakthrough came from those dramatic, triangular gable forms. These extraordinary steel-framed vaults flood the upper level with cathedral-like volume while quietly nodding to Dulwich Hill’s familiar rooflines. "Internally, it created something really interesting while still connecting to the streetscape," he explains. “Overall, it was a successful outcome.”
Material selections tell the story of both place and purpose. Recycled face brickwork grounds the home in the suburb’s heritage while adding rich, textural depth that shifts with the light. Standing seam cladding and timber screening introduce a contemporary edge, while Dolomite stone surfaces bring a sense of quiet luxury that can withstand the rigours of family life. Blake understood the assignment: beauty that doesn’t require preciousness.
"Four boys live here, so durability was a huge factor. Every design decision had to stand the test of time," he explains. Open-plan living encourages the kind of casual interaction where family life thrives. The custom fireplace and media unit bring structure without dominating the space, while clever storage solutions keep the chaos of family life tucked neatly behind clean lines.
Blake designed flexibility into every corner, understanding that family needs evolve constantly. Those cathedral ceilings in the master bedroom provide sanctuary without isolation, while the upstairs living area adapts as needs change. "We designed the upstairs rooms to be bedrooms, but they could easily become a second living space, office, or storage," he says. “Family homes need to be flexible.”
Even construction challenges became design moments. When kitchen windows arrived in unexpected sizes, Blake turned constraints into opportunity: "The stone splashback that wraps up and down the wall was a direct response to that misalignment. It turned out beautifully." It’s now one of the kitchen’s defining features.
Step through the front door, and the architecture unfolds with purposeful restraint. Light draws you forward through the open-plan living zone, where full-height glass frames a tropical garden and a mineral saltwater pool, glimmering behind banana palms. Throughout the entire home, moments of precision abound. The sculptural curve of the staircase, the alignment of the brickwork, the thoughtful layering of timber and steel. Nothing feels accidental.
Completed in 2022 and shortlisted for the NSW Architecture Awards, Blake's vision for 67A Windsor Road extends beyond accolades to something more fundamental: "I hope it brings happiness,” he says. “Moments like cooking a meal together, enjoying Christmas in the backyard, or noticing how light hits the wall in a beautiful way. It's those day-to-day joys that make a house a home."
From expressive form to family-first function, this is a house designed to grow with its people. It’s not just a home that looks good. It’s a home that works hard. And that, in the end, may be its greatest achievement.
Watch the full interview with Blake Letnic here.