Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Clever Gold Coast Duplex on a Narrow Site
Smart planning has made way for two three-bedroom homes on one block, complete with privacy and plenty of room to move
This duplex in Miami on the Gold Coast is home to Tamara and Joey Johnson. With a successful history of buying and selling property in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Johnsons had a good understanding of the real estate market and knew an opportunity when they saw one. When the piece of land in close proximity to the beach, cafes and local amenities came up for sale they jumped on it, and developed a duplex that would be both personally and financially beneficial.
The Johnsons engaged Happy Haus to do the end-to-end design and construction of their new home. “From the outset, they were committed to designing something different, with the aim of creating two generously proportioned dwellings more akin to small- to medium-sized houses than large apartments,” says Lachlan Grant, managing director of Happy Haus.
The Johnsons engaged Happy Haus to do the end-to-end design and construction of their new home. “From the outset, they were committed to designing something different, with the aim of creating two generously proportioned dwellings more akin to small- to medium-sized houses than large apartments,” says Lachlan Grant, managing director of Happy Haus.
The brief was to create a duplex design that would result in generous internal and external spaces, and to maximise indoor-outdoor connections from the living areas. By dividing the duplex front and back, each is given full-width frontage. The front duplex, in which the Johnsons live, has elevated living areas and a front deck; the rear duplex has ground-level living areas that open to a rear garden.
“By orientating the two dwellings in opposite directions, a large degree of privacy is afforded to the occupants, who both enjoy separate street entrances and completely private homes with their own unique aspects,” says Grant.
“By orientating the two dwellings in opposite directions, a large degree of privacy is afforded to the occupants, who both enjoy separate street entrances and completely private homes with their own unique aspects,” says Grant.
Each apartment has a double garage with street frontage.
Custom-made blackbutt timber garage doors: Barc Construction
Custom-made blackbutt timber garage doors: Barc Construction
Throughout the property, timber battens and breeze blocks nod to the beach shacks of the past, and create a casual sense of privacy towards the street.
Breeze blocks: Besser Block Centre
Breeze blocks: Besser Block Centre
The Johnsons’ house has an open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area upstairs for informal living and entertaining. A utility zone with laundry, powder room and walk-in pantry is positioned at the end of the dining room against the shared wall of the duplex, adding to the sense of separation between the two dwellings.
Sliding doors and exterior timber balustrades open the dining room to the northern aspect. “It brings an outdoor feel to the room and provides for natural breezes,” says Grant. “Designing for natural ventilation is always at the core of our design philosophy and this building is no exception. Louvre windows and large sliding openings capture the breezes on the site and mean that air-conditioning is not required. In addition, energy-efficient electrical fittings have been utilised.”
Sliding doors and exterior timber balustrades open the dining room to the northern aspect. “It brings an outdoor feel to the room and provides for natural breezes,” says Grant. “Designing for natural ventilation is always at the core of our design philosophy and this building is no exception. Louvre windows and large sliding openings capture the breezes on the site and mean that air-conditioning is not required. In addition, energy-efficient electrical fittings have been utilised.”
Seen here, the kitchen is a practical space and includes a walk-in pantry for food storage, appliances and additional bench space. Sunlight filters in through the facing sliding doors to bathe the kitchen and dining area in natural light.
A considered approach to interior materials continually references the traditional beach shacks of the Gold Coast. “The 1960s and 1970s beach shacks are an iconic, if not fading, part of the Gold Coast’s architectural history, and represent a point in time where a relaxed outlook and outdoor-focused lifestyle helped shape what the Gold Coast is today,” says Grant.
“Historically, these homes were secondary or holiday homes and they used cost-effective materials well. We believe this can still be the case and you can achieve great outcomes with readily available, cost-effective materials if you take an approach of creative thinking through the design process.”
“Historically, these homes were secondary or holiday homes and they used cost-effective materials well. We believe this can still be the case and you can achieve great outcomes with readily available, cost-effective materials if you take an approach of creative thinking through the design process.”
In the kitchen, the white and dark-grey colour palette is warmed up with a timber kitchen island front and a slimline pendant light. The splashback, with square tiles laid in diamond formation, adds visual interest to the otherwise horizontal and vertical lines.
Splashback tiles: Essence Tile and Stone; benchtops: Caesarstone; cabinetry: Laminex; tap hardware: Reece; pendant light: Beacon Lighting
Splashback tiles: Essence Tile and Stone; benchtops: Caesarstone; cabinetry: Laminex; tap hardware: Reece; pendant light: Beacon Lighting
In the living area, large-format concrete-look tiles are softened with a neutral rug and comfortable leather chairs. A blackbutt timber screen separates the space from the stairs and provides another layer of privacy from the neighbouring units.
“Filled with bright natural light, and dappled shade from external timber sun shading, the room is a relaxing and flexible hub in the home,” says Grant.
The upstairs lounge, with its high raking ceilings and stacking doors, flows out to a large outdoor terrace. The outdoor dining area is covered, but is placed to still allow northern light into the home. Views from the terrace capture the Gold Coast Hinterland in the distance, while a strip of green turf makes the space feel grounded.
Scyon Linea Weatherboard and Scyon Easylap Panel cladding: James Hardie
Scyon Linea Weatherboard and Scyon Easylap Panel cladding: James Hardie
There are three bedrooms downstairs, and the master bedroom has a walk-through robe, giving the space a feeling of seclusion, privacy and spaciousness.
Storage solutions are functional, and frosted glazing provides an additional level of privacy. Battened timber screening beyond allows for controlled views to the garden and sky.
Ceiling fan: Beacon Lighting
Storage solutions are functional, and frosted glazing provides an additional level of privacy. Battened timber screening beyond allows for controlled views to the garden and sky.
Ceiling fan: Beacon Lighting
The ensuite and bathrooms have a natural material palette for a simple and relaxing look and feel. “Black tapware is paired with timber laminate, and large oval-shaped above-bench basins create a space- and cost-efficient design feature, which maximises practical storage,” says Grant.
Bathroom fittings: Reece
Bathroom fittings: Reece
Taking a glimpse into the rear duplex; the open-plan kitchen, living and dining area is at the rear of the house, where it opens to the garden. The bedrooms are upstairs.
The lower floor of the second residence is accessed via a patio to the dining room, and a deck extending from the living room opens the space to the garden beyond.
Stairs lead up to a multi-purpose and versatile landing and three bedrooms. “By marginally increasing the size of the landing area outside the bedrooms, a multi-functional space is created that easily accommodates functions such as a study, kids’ play area or breakout sitting nook,” says Grant. “This slight increase in size also facilitates a sense of privacy, separation and breathing space between bedrooms.”
The loop pile carpet has a woven look reminiscent of sisal, and brings a casual warmth to the private spaces.
Loop pile carpet: Cavalier Bremworth
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The loop pile carpet has a woven look reminiscent of sisal, and brings a casual warmth to the private spaces.
Loop pile carpet: Cavalier Bremworth
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Who lives here: Tamara and Joey Johnson
Location: Miami, Gold Coast, Queensland
Size: Front duplex 230 square metres (Tamara and Joey’s home); rear duplex 196 square metres. Each dwelling has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Design and build: Happy Haus
Zoned for medium-density residential development, the Johnsons’ newfound piece of land had a mix of units, duplexes and detached dwellings surrounding it. “The major challenge was its 10-metre frontage, a width that’s not usually successful for small-scale multi-residential projects,” Grant says. “It means projects tend to be long and thin, making the spaces somewhat awkward to live in.”
Added to this, the northern boundary was flanked by multi-storey multi-residential unit blocks. “The key challenge here was how to create an open and breezy coastal environment to meet the brief, while retaining privacy from the neighbouring properties,” says Grant.