An intergenerational beach house for family holidays on two levels with living upstairs and bedrooms down stairs, the South Coast Beach House was designed to be modern with plenty of light, air and a robust materially addressing its corrosive seaside location. Sited on a flat land on the edge of a lagoon within a stone’s throw of a surf beach, the house faces north, with panoramic views of wetlands, lime green pastures and the mountains of the Great Dividing Range.

The plan with its staggered massing, central spine is private to the street with the recessed garage contrasting the curved exterior of the media room sweeping in to the central front door. Internally, the spine varies in height punctuated by light shafts as you pass a series of bedrooms leading to the private master bedroom suite and the norther garden terrace under the large cantilever balcony.

The upstairs is slowly revealed off a parallel side stair as one large open living dining kitchen area with a curved floating timber ceiling rising to the north taking in the sun and views and two protruding decks with a fully opening door configuration linking inside and outside with the large cantilever roof protecting the northern glazed façade. The floating roof is supported on near invisible round steel columns creating a glazed high light all over the upper floor.

The interior and exterior is all exposed white bricks, rustic long externally and more refined internally with concrete structure exposed throughout. The geometric curved roof which changes angle from front to rear gently is clad in copper. In addition, brass doors and windows along with railings respond to sea side condition of the site. According to the architects, the use of robust materials defy corrosive seaside conditions, ensuring longevity.

Stone floors throughout the house are heated electrically and powered by a large solar roof top array concealed behind the flat roof on the street side and batteries in the garage. This combined with the double glazing, and large roof overhanging responds well to the micro climate of the south coast. Meticulously crafted by skilled craftsmen in concrete, bricks, brass, copper and tallowwood, the home is a very considered response to a very special place.