David Bonaddio, Real Estate Reporter
A cheeky stunt by former contestant Robby has exposed an unexpected privacy issue with the walk-on glass floors installed across this year’s five Mt Eliza homes. Picture: Nine
Former The Block contestant Robby has given fans an unexpected eyeful after baring his backside through the glass floor of a $3.905m home.
The revealing stunt took place at 2 Mackillop Place, Mt Eliza, in Adam and Jolene’s House 1, which sold at auction on October 31.
Robby and fellow former contestant Mat shared the footage on their joint Instagram account, captioning the post “House 1 skylight reveal”.
Filmed from the hallway downstairs, the clip shows Robby standing naked on a walk-on skylight above, with his bare backside clearly visible through the textured glass.
The cheeky demonstration has revived an awkward privacy concern raised months earlier when women touring the five homes questioned whether someone standing downstairs could see up their dresses.
Social media users were quick to join in on the joke.
“Defect – the glass has a crack in it!” one commenter wrote, referring to Robby’s exposed backside.
Another cheekily asked: “Is there a drone shot from this walk through by chance?”
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Former The Block contestant Robby gave fans an unexpected view through House 1’s glass floor, prompting one commenter to joke that the skylight had a “crack in it”. Picture: Instagram/Robbie and Mat
Robby and Mat responded with laughing emojis.
But the unusual feature has raised a genuine question about privacy in the multimillion-dollar properties, with House 1’s glass floor having no privacy treatment fitted.
The Australian-first walk-on skylights were installed across all five homes to transfer natural light through the upper floor into the rooms and hallways below.
The walk-on skylights were designed to replace the need for large open voids, allowing homeowners to keep valuable upstairs floor space while bringing in daylight. Picture: Dylan James Lark –
VELUX is developing an electronic blind for a future version of its walk-on skylight, while existing obscuring coatings can help prevent unwanted views from below. Picture: Dylan James Lark
VELUX skylight expert Carl Swanson previously explained that the technology created what he called a “waterfall effect”, bringing sunlight down through two storeys without sacrificing usable upstairs floor space.
In a more recent interview, Mr Swanson said the design had worked particularly well in Houses 1, 2 and 3, where the skylights illuminated hallways that would otherwise receive less natural light.
House 4 incorporated a walk-on skylight near its entrance, with VELUX offering obscuring coatings for homeowners concerned about visibility through the glass. Picture: Dylan James Lark
Adam and Jolene’s House 1 sold for $3.905m, but its walk-on glass floor has no privacy treatment, leaving people upstairs visible from below. Picture: Dylan James Lark
However, the privacy concern had already been put to Mr Swanson during an earlier interview, when he was asked what would happen if someone wearing a skirt walked across the glass while another person stood underneath.
“So we are developing a blind system, and we do have obscure 3M coatings that go on them as well,” Mr Swanson said.
“We’re developing and that’s coming out for our next version too. And there’s also a 3M dotted cover if you’re looking for the privacy.”
The Block’s five Mt Eliza homes incorporated walk-on skylights, an Australian-first residential feature designed to carry daylight between storeys. Picture: Dylan James Lark
Mr Swanson explained that obscuring coatings could provide privacy, while an automatic electronic blind was being developed for a future version of the product.
He said different privacy treatments could be used depending on how much visibility homeowners wanted through the floor.
Former The Block winner and architect Steph Ottavio said privacy film could make the unusual glass floors more practical for everyday homeowners. Picture: Steph Ottavio/Instagram
Former Block winner and architect Steph Ottavio also discussed the concern during an earlier interview after women attending the media tour raised questions about the potential to see up someone’s skirt.
Ms Ottavio praised the technology for allowing natural light to travel between levels without compromising valuable floor space.
“The way that they’re able to transfer light from the upper floors to the ground floors, like, I think is superb,” she said.
“You’re able to maximise the light without compromising your floor space.”
House 2 was among three properties where VELUX’s new walk-on skylights were used to brighten hallways, with the design also raising questions about privacy. Picture: Dylan James Lark
House 3’s skylight arrangement was designed to illuminate the hallway below, even as daylight faded towards evening, VELUX expert Carl Swanson said. Picture: Dylan James Lark
She said the option of a privacy film would also make the technology more practical for ordinary homeowners.
The walk-on skylights were specified by The Block architect Julian Brenchley, with the unusual glass floors among the design innovations introduced across the five Mt Eliza homes.
All five properties sold at auction, with Adam and Jolene’s House 1 fetching $3.905m and winners Courtney and Sev securing the highest price of $4.72m.
House 5’s walk-on skylight was positioned near the entrance, allowing natural light to filter between floors without sacrificing upstairs living space. Picture: Dylan James Lark
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