Q House, 2021

Callala Beach NSW

Located on the foreshore of Jervis Bay, Q house was designed as a coastal retreat for a young Sydney based family to immerse themselves away from city life: A space to connect with the ocean and each other. The building form was conceived to provide space that facilitates a connection with the surrounding landscape while offering shelter from harsh coastal conditions and weather fronts. The solidity of the form provides a sense of respite during heavy storms, while substantial glazing allows the spaces to be completely opened to the landscape when weather permits. The building is split over three floor plates that subtly step up from the street level entry, through the private spaces into an open entertaining realm that faces the ocean. This gentle shift in floor level mimics the experience of walking up and over the surrounding sand dunes, pausing at the top to take in panoramic views of the bay. A material palette of Australian hardwood, copper, matte black aluminium and concrete masonry is robust enough to endure the marine conditions and carries through to the interior to further evoke a sense of refuge.