Open disposition
Open and spacious with the ability to be separated into zones as required, this airy, heart-of-light beach house is as relaxed as its setting
Designed by Steeg Banham, Banham Architects
From the architect:
This house is a family home for a couple and their three teenagers.
The brief was for a simple, low maintenance beach house that is welcoming and relaxed, but also stylish and modern.
The block overlooks Jubilee Park, near the coast in City Beach.
All the living areas face north and enjoy a view of the park and glimpses of the ocean.
The house wraps around an internal courtyard that creates a private outdoor area and allows for ample natural light to penetrate the house.
Large operable louvre pergolas over the courtyard and upper balcony provide control over solar gain.
The open plan of the living area with large sliding glass doors to the outdoors creates a flow from inside to out and provides excellent cross ventilation.
The elevation of the floor level of the living areas above the street helps control sightlines to maintain privacy to the house interior.
A plunge pool nestled between the building and western boundary serves as a water feature and provides for a rinse upon returning from the beach.
A floating wall allows for views of the pool while shielding the interior from the western sun.
One of the challenges for this project was to create a home that could be open and spacious, while having the ability to be separated into zones when required.
The front of the home forms the living zone while the rear houses the secluded bedrooms.
A concealed sliding door can separate the private areas from public when the house is in entertainment mode.
Similarly, the upper level is the parents’ retreat and can be separated from the general living and teenagers below.
The basement level houses a large garage and man cave.
The exterior of the house is characterised by a series of fine horizontal planes.
Detailed to be as thin and minimalist as possible, these form a striking juxtaposition to the robust stone walls.
The large cantilevers and minimal supporting structure give the appearance that the planes hover in space.
The extensive glazing creates a transparent structure that enhances this illusion.
The materials were chosen to be robust and low maintenance.
Travertine stone that has the grain and hue of beach sand has been used on the living area floors.
In contrast, basalt stone has been used on the feature walls to contrast the white blades that form the roof and balconies.
Black fixtures and cabinetry form a contrast to the stone and white forms of the building.
The resulting house has a striking modern aesthetic blended with natural materials.
Credit list
Architect
Kitchen manufacturer
Roof
Window/door joinery
Main flooring
Paint
Feature lighting
Stone bath
Builder
Cladding
Louvre systems
Benchtops
Bathroom tiles
Fireplace
Control systems
Awards
Home kitchen bathroom commercial design
