Inside record producer Sam Littlemore’s dome-shaped home and music studio in Sydney’s Avalon Beach

While John Williamson once famously sang about a “home among the gum trees” as the quintessential Aussie dream, for music producer and Pnau member Sam Littlemore, aka Sam La More, it was a “dome among the gum trees” that really caught his eye.

When he first stepped into the 1980s dome-shaped home in Sydney’s Avalon Beach on a whim nine years ago, Littlemore, 51, says he was “blown away immediately”.

He had been in the area having lunch with his family and popped in to take a look at the “dream house” listing as a lark. When he realised the numbers might actually add up in terms of affordability, he was instantly sold.

“I just leapt at it straight away, and thought, ‘I have to have this. It’s so unique,’” he tells Domain.

Nestled among native gum trees and boasting Pittwater views, the distinctively shaped, three-level dome house is almost like a spacious, luxury adult treehouse. Here, rare architecture and striking scenery converge.

“I’m probably 50:50 on the uniqueness, and then just the sheer beauty of being here,” Littlemore says.

“The view is so overwhelming when you’re in the space. When you’re sitting at the dining table and the sun’s setting, the sky’s lit up, and the ocean’s lit up … it’s heavenly.”

The home’s expansive windows accentuate the view, with large frameless sections that showcase the outdoors.

“I think that’s a beautiful feature, because you very rarely see frameless glass at that scale,” Littlemore says. “It’s really special during storms over the water in particular.

“Acoustically, it’s a magical space. Whenever there are any sounds – like when rain falls – it resonates within the space.”

Sounds are something that Littlemore knows a thing or two about. He is one of Australia’s most successful record producers, best known as a member of the dance-music trio Pnau, who had a number-one hit, Cold Heart (Pnau Remix), by Elton John and Dua Lipa, in 2021.

He can name-drop globally recognised superstars like Gwen Stefani and home-grown hitmakers Peking Duk among the acts he’s worked with.

In the late 2010s, he nabbed multiple ARIAs during a self-described “purple patch” and “flurry of wins”.

Three of these prestigious awards, which he won as part of Pnau, take pride of place atop the concrete fireplace, acting as sculptural showpieces.

“It’s a little embarrassing having them on display, but I need to put them somewhere,” Littlemore jokes. “It’s not ideal, but at the same time, I am super-proud of them. They’re so hard to earn. For a long time, for 10 years, I was trying to get even a nomination.”

The fireplace is also a special feature of the home. Featuring a beautiful curved-glass front and surrounded by a mass of concrete, it’s not only stylish but energy-efficient as it absorbs heat and dissipates it over a much longer period of time compared to other materials.

The material is also the headline act in the home’s spiral staircase, which is constructed from off-form concrete.

An appreciation for architecture runs deep in Littlemore’s blood. His late grandfather, David Littlemore, was a famous architect who played a key role in the construction of the Sydney Opera House.

Sam learnt some of the tricks of the trade himself during a stint studying architecture at university.

Combining his knowledge and passion for architecture with his meticulous eye for detail, the producer enlisted the help of a carpenter neighbour as he designed and built what he describes proudly as his “ultimate indulgence” – his home music studio that rivals a professional set-up.

The exterior of the soundproof studio is clad in copper and built around incredible speakers.

“The patina is so beautiful. The curvature is beautiful. The detailing is gorgeous,” Littlemore says. “Sonically, it’s great too, because it’s really quite high density, so it helps the acoustic treatment.”

One of the decor pieces that constantly turns guests’ heads when they enter the room is a personally signed record by Elton John.

It’s a keepsake Littlemore received from the singer to say thank you after Cold Heart became a number one hit across multiple countries.

“My brother [Nick Littlemore] and Peter [Mayes] also got them,” Littlemore says of the gift to him and his former Pnau bandmates. “It was a lovely gesture … I’m now getting Christmas cards from him every year with photos of his sons.”

After almost a decade living in the dome, Littlemore is now set to put the place on the market in the coming months. He hopes it’ll find a buyer who appreciates its beauty as much as he and his family have for so many years.

“God, I’ve been so happy here,” he says. “It’s just been the impossible dream to even own it for this period of time.”