Residential - New Build

Designed as a weekend sanctuary for a three-generation extended family, this two-storey contemporary home by Bryant Alsop Architects is set on a spectacular beachside site and responds sensitively to its natural and climatic context. The house balances robust, low-maintenance materials with refined architectural detailing, creating a retreat that is both practical and deeply connected to its surroundings.

With a strong emphasis on family and entertaining, the home accommodates large groups with ease, offering a spacious kitchen, living, and dining area that opens directly onto the water’s edge through expansive glazing. A main bedroom and five guest suites were all designed to maximise the waterfront views, ensuring every occupant enjoys a direct connection to the coastal landscape.

Environmental sustainability underpins the design, with passive solar orientation, natural ventilation, and high-performance insulation delivering long-term comfort and energy efficiency. A substantial PV solar array with battery storage ensures resilience during power outages, a reasonably regular occurrence in the area.

Outdoor living was a key consideration, with a flexible alfresco zone that can be opened or enclosed in response to shifting winds and silt blown in from the nearby bay. The plan also aligns carefully with the prevailing coastal weather patterns and the family's interest in boating, offering visual access to the nearby boat ramp.

Existing mature gum trees on the adjacent road reserve were retained and designed around, softening the building’s profile and anchoring it in the natural Australian landscape. The materials palette—comprising timber, natural stone, and muted finishes—blends seamlessly with the surrounding environment, reinforcing the home’s sense of place.

This home represents a thoughtful synthesis of family needs, environmental sensitivity, and architectural clarity, delivering a timeless retreat for generations to come.

Photographer: Jack Lovel

Builder: Clancy Constructions

Furniture: Studio Esar