The house is a modest, single family beach house designed to replace an existing dwelling on the site which the client had owned for a number of years. The primary design idea was to embrace a two storey covered outdoor living space connecting the house and garden and overlooking the Broadwater.

The resulting design satisfies the clients brief which included the following main elements:
- An elevated living area opening into the garden with views to the Broadwater
- A guest bedroom, bathroom, main entry and laundry on the main level
- A master suite, sitting area, office and separate bedroom on the upper level all with water views
- Car parking and storage below ground

The compact built form continues the two storey urban fabric characteristic of this part of Main Beach, along both street frontages, celebrating the street corner with a recessed double height, outdoor living space. Elevating the house 1.5m above the street optimises the view over parkland towards the water. This device has allowed both street frontages to be extensively landscaped using a ha ha combined with a lower than normal height street wall which affords privacy and views for the occupants while enhancing the public amenity of the streetscape.

Designed to take full advantage of prevailing summer breezes, this house contains a number of passive ESD initiatives. It possesses opening windows on all sides giving good natural ventilation. Northern and western elevations, which are extensively glazed, are shaded by operable louvred screens reducing solar gain in summer and allowing the sun to penetrate the interior during winter. More solid walls to the south exclude the cooler winter winds. Walls, floors and roofs are generally light coloured to reflect heat. A large subterranean water tank collects water for reuse on site and environmentally friendly finishes have been utilised throughout.

Materials comprise painted, rendered concrete masonry for external walls generally. Some areas of timber frame walls are clad in fibre cement sheet with aluminium cover battens recalling the beachside vernacular of Main Beach. The roof is steel framed and lined. Window frames and shutters are anodised aluminium. Flooring is generally white terrazzo with some areas of natural timber boarding.

Visit the BDA Architects website – here.

Continue Reading »Gold Coast Residence by BDA Architecture

It may be a small beach house, but this design by Javier Artadi Arquitecto packs quite the contemporary punch into a modest, 2,300 sq. ft. frame. Located in Las Arenas, just south of Lima in Peru, this cool holiday house was designed as a beach-front getaway, and reflects that relaxed sentiment both indoors and out. By blurring the boundary between in and out, the architect afforded this modern beach house its cool and calm appeal. From a simple cube shape, parts of the walls and ceilings were cut away to reveal interiors to the outdoors and maximize on sunlight and the spectacular views. The resulting sun-soaked spaces make you feel like you’re outside, but with the comforts and luxuries of a sheltered space. The main volume houses the living room and is connected to the terrace and indoor/outdoor pool. A separate, small volume is occupied by the home’s private living areas. Javier Artadi Arquitecto
via Digs Digs

Continue Reading »Small Beach House – Cool Cut-Out Design in Peru

Marcio Kogan is Brazil’s designer who create beautiful modern house designs in minimalist and natural style. This house in Laranjeiras, neighborhood located in the Southern Zone of Rio de Janeiro, is one of his latest works which combines both styles in one beach house. Ultra wide openings and imperceptibly transition between indoors and outdoors what make this very comfortable. Minimalism softened through wood surfaces and stone walls make the house design’s modern but not cold. 6 bedrooms with balconies are located on second floor creating great places for rest and catch sunrise views. First floor have kitchen and maids quarters at the one wing and dining room, living areas, bar and games room at the other. [Marcio Kogan]

Continue Reading »Natural Minimalism in Open Beach House Design – Laranjeiras House by Marcio Kogan