Scrub and Serenity

This holiday house is situated on the edge of a floodway and within a short stroll to the beach. Mature eucalyptus gums line the northern perimeter of the site providing a transition with the floodway and shade from the summer heat. Nestled on the low side of the hill, the block is protected from the strong winter winds.

Whilst the house caters for family holidays, it has also been designed as a retreat for parents when the children are not present. The southern pod can be easily closed off when not required.

A series of elevated ‘pods’ are linked with an interconnecting passageway / breezeway, with the largest pod positioned to reinforce the importance of communal living within a holiday house environment. This living area with its extended external space has primary position on the site to capture the northern aspect and to maximise the penetration of sunlight during winter. The cantilevered balcony extends the outdoor living into and amongst the canopy of the gum trees.

The building pods are lifted off the ground to capture the summer breezes, warmth of the sun in winter and maximizing the northern aspect to the native vegetation and floodway.

Inspiration for the lightweight cladding has been drawn from the eucalyptus gums on site and the old 50-60s shacks that once prevailed along the coastal areas. The installation of the cladding vertically and the steel blade fenestration reflects the vertical nature of gum tree trunks and with the timber cladding, it provides a textural contrast to the horizontal form of the pods.

A high level of collaboration was undertaken with the structural engineer, particularly regarding the balcony where the boundaries of structural stability were pushed to their limits. The end result is a slender structure where the cantilevered floor structure and vertical blade panels work together to form a rigid diaphragm.