Budawang people of the Yuin nation
NSW
House in Narrawallee is a post-and-beam platform home perched on stilts, which sits lightly on the sloping land beneath. The brief was to imaginatively reinvent the beachcomber style home to accommodate extended family trips down the coast from Sydney, but without losing the home or surrounding area’s charm.
Kassia St Clair’s The Secret Lives of Colour was a starting point for our investigation into a playful, yet contextual, use of colour. St Clair unpacks the historical and cultural differences between various tones of the same colour. During several visits to the site and its surrounding context, we gathered fallen branches and leaves in unexpected and various hues which formed the inspiration for a series of rooms soaked in colour.
Located in the coastal town of Narrawallee, this once-overlooked fibro beach house has been thoughtfully reimagined to accommodate both long and short stays. A series of compact yet creatively designed multi-use spaces allows the house to adapt fluidly to the seasonal ebb and flow of visitors. Upon entering, a playful spirit emerges revealing a vibrant yet balanced colour palette infusing the space with warmth and joy.
The house has been carefully pared back and replanned with subtlety and restraint. The result is a house that feels grounded in its surroundings, preserving its original charm while reconnecting to its context, creating a house that truly feels like a beachside home away from home.
The transformation of _Bertie’s Beach House_ has allowed us to enjoy and maximise the space – by opening up the back portion of the home, it is now filled with sunlight from all angles – Its natural charm, cosy-ness and quaint style have been carefully maintained whilst making the house work much harder for our family. The way colour is prioritised and every small thoughtful element such as a curved tile or a marble cupboard pull make little mundane corners of the house, feel unique and special.
The ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
