Natural Harmony

The design philosophy was to create a very liveable, functional, environmentally appropriate and sustainable design, tailored to the clients’ lifestyle, drawing on traditional materials of ‘timber and tin’ and traditional forms of Australian architecture yet injecting a sense of modernism and timelessness.

The large, flat ocean-facing block with double street access provided special opportunities to create a “group” of low-set floating buildings clustered for a village atmosphere.  The “L” shaped house is flanked by large verandahs for year-round outdoor living.

External features include a secure front gatehouse to the pool area and BBQ shelter, partly translucent verandah roofs that float above the main roof to create cool, spacious outdoor entertainment areas, and curved batten profiles to add flowing lines but maintain privacy.

Particularly notable are the sustainability features, from the large overhangs to shade windows and doors, roof water harvesting into large corrugated steel tanks, and double hung windows and doors allowing for exceptional cross ventilation, to insulated roof and walls for optimum thermal performance and an array of water and energy saving devices and fittings.