Presented with a brief to design a ‘Hamptons’ inspired beach house, we appropriated key design principles that could instead relate to both the Queenslander and the established beach shack vernacular.

The result is an elegant nod to an assumed ‘style’ with a contemporary Australian ingenuity aligned to the sub-tropical climate. The built form is a combination of substantial elements that can respond to the rigours of a harsh beachside environment and lightweight materials that together create a rich yet restrained result.

The exterior prioritises simple lines, gable forms and symmetry and works together with the high lofted ceilings and thoughtfully positioned window openings to unify the design. The design takes the core principles from an assumed style spoken during the briefing stages of the process and also functions as a considered home – accommodating to the needs of a family, home-run businesses, the beachside climate and the established vernacular.

Location: Casuarina, NSW

Completed: 2016

Builder: Hammerhead Building Projects

Photographer: Andy Macpherson Studio