Northern Rivers Beach House
By REFRESH*
Award-Winning Beach House
Located in a beachside setting, the architectural brief for this project was to design a contemporary, yet cost-effective three-bedroom house, well connected to nature and featuring subtropical open-plan living in a temperate climate. The initial premise for the design was to ‘re-interpret’ the beach house by integrating traditional materials of corrugated metal, fibre cement sheeting and timber elements, onto a contemporary and dynamic shape.
The restraints of a small site area, low budget and restrictions due to flooding, resulted in exploring the unconventional concept of a cantilevered structure, with both ends overhanging and counterbalancing each other. Using steel for the major structural elements, and timber for the secondary structure, a very economical and bridge-like architecture was created to inspire a soaring visual effect. Working with a small budget required the use of innovative or unconventional details to achieve the desired design outcome.
This house incorporates sustainable design principles, and has been planned to take advantage of natural ventilation, passive solar design and a very economical use of space. Building materials, with sustainable credentials were used such as plantation timber, bamboo for flooring, and plywood for ceilings. The abstraction of the timber-battened vernacular of subtropical architecture adds movement and scale to the house
Australian Institute of Architects 2015 Gold Coast / Northern Rivers Regional Award Jury Statement:
“This understated elevated residence blends well with its sub-tropical coastal landscape. It exhibits architectural and structural resolution in an innovative way, within a clear functional planning framework. The design management process with this project was well conveyed, and a cost effective exemplar for this constrained site was achieved. The realisation of Stage 2 with its’ informed site planning, will contribute well to this evolving coastal community.”
Awards
2015 AIA Gold Coast/Northern Rivers Regional Award • House of the Year
2015 AIA QLD State Commendation Residential Architecture Houses
2015 The PLAN International Award FINALIST Houses Category
2015 #COLORBONDbyDesign Competition Winner
Location
South Golden Beach, NSW
Timeline
2013 - 2014
Photography: Damien Bredberg Photography
Professionals used in
Northern Rivers Beach House
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REFRESH*
About the
Professional
REFRESH* [R*] is a multi-award-winning Brisbane (Australia) based studio for architecture committed to realising finely crafted contemporary architecture responsive to brief and context.
R* believes great architecture contributes to a better functioning society. Our mission is to use design as a tool to exceed our client’s aspirations whilst balancing their intentions to
positively influence the environment and enhance people’s lives.
We strive for the most meaningful and sustainable solutions. From concept to delivery, in every phase, we continue to improve and refine the design until the project is complete.
Our work has a strong focus on sustainability, underlined by its capacity to endure. It is contextual, adaptable, harmonious, and well-considered in the use of space, light, material, and technology.
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