Architecture Style

2008 RAIA Residential Architecture Award.

Aptly named the "beach shack", this black box sits within the Casuarina estate on a beach-front lot. The brief was to develop a house that was informal, casual, comfortable and welcoming and most importantly to have a space for the clients quiver of long boards. Surrounded by an eclectic array of houses it became apparent early in the design stage the importance of the surrounds, the environment and the conditions that the house would be subjected to such as wind, salt and sun. The use of galvanised steel and stained ecoply promotes a rawness to the skin that will age gracefully rather than deteriorate like most paint type finishes. Whilst on the inside the material palette is refined yet hard wearing in the form of polished concrete.

The double height entry with grass underfoot and natural landscape consists of a semi indoor/outdoor space constructed of clear weatherboards. This area allows for the wetsuit to be abandoned into the concealed laundry, the surfboards to be 'racked', and is able to be hosed out through the decking boards to discard unwanted sand and salt. Once within this entry, large timber clad sliding doors can be pushed out to open into the house. On ground level a simple program of living spaces that open up to a courtyard off one side and a main outdoor room to the rear of the property that overlooks a pool and dunes. Upstairs consists of simple bedroom and bathroom facilities that interact with the ground level and entry via a series of voids and openings. Overall this house evokes openness and a casual sensation that typifies what a beach house should be.