Northern Rivers Beach House

Located in a beachside setting, the architectural brief for this project was to design a contemporary, yet cost effective three-bedroom house, well connected to nature and featuring subtropical open-plan living in a temperate climate. The initial premise for the design was to ‘re-interpret’ the beach house by integrating traditional materials of corrugated metal, fibre cement sheeting and timber elements, onto a contemporary and dynamic shape.

The restraints of a small site area, low budget and restrictions due to flooding, resulted in exploring the unconventional concept of a cantilevered structure, with both ends overhanging and counterbalancing each other. Using steel for the major structural elements, and timber for the secondary structure, a very economical and bridge-like architecture was created to inspire a soaring visual effect. Working with a small budget required the use of innovative or unconventional details to achieve the desired design outcome.

This house incorporates sustainable design principles, and has been planned to take advantage of natural ventilation, passive solar design and a very economical use of space. Building materials, with sustainable credentials were used such as plantation timber, bamboo for flooring, and plywood for ceilings. The abstraction of the timber-battened vernacular of subtropical architecture adds movement and scale to the house.

Australian Institute of Architects 2015 Gold Coast / Northern Rivers Regional Award JURY STATEMENT:
“This understated elevated residence blends well with its sub-tropical coastal landscape. It exhibits architectural and structural resolution in an innovative way, within a clear functional planning framework. The design management process with this project was well conveyed, and a cost effective exemplar for this constrained site was achieved. The realisation of Stage 2 with its’ informed site planning, will contribute well to this evolving coastal community.”

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