The Beach House started as an alteration and addition, to an existing house, on a steep and compact site at Killcare. It became clear that the internal planning was limiting the functionality of the rooms and their access to external sunlight. The large family wanted to maximise the northern orientation of the site, which fronted onto the street, but to still maintain privacy and then to open the back of the house up to the ocean views to the south. The solution was to strip the house down to the floor platforms, which would avoid the need for significant below ground cost of construction. The planning was rationalised by adding one single run of stairs on the western side of the site. The four levels then accessed the stairs at various points, with the ability to close them off for thermal control. The top level opens from north to south with northern light that flows through to the open plan Living/Dining area. The result is a light filled home with separate areas for children and adults to all enjoy their beach holidays.
Images: Brigid Arnott