Houzz Tour: Eco Beach House With Spectacular Views of the Pacific
Step inside a Northern Beaches renovation designed to fit its owners like a glove
High on a sandstone ridge looking east over the Pacific Ocean, this sustainable beach home sits proudly, taking in the view. Wowed by the views of the ocean, the owners Josh and Rachel snapped up a new site in Curl Curl, Sydney’s Northern Beaches, determined to design a sustainable building that responded to its dramatic topography and views.
Neil Mackenzie of Mackenzie Pronk Architects was only too happy to help: “The site is stunning. Our clients had spent a decade working in the UK when we began working with them. They were in the process of returning to the blue skies and surf of home, so I think the idea of a true Australian beach house was like a dream.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Josh and Rachel and their twin boys just starting school
Location: Curl Curl, a suburb of Sydney’s Northern Beaches
Size: Enclosed spaces add up to about 250 square metres, including 4 bedrooms
Cost: Construction was about $1.2 million
Neil Mackenzie of Mackenzie Pronk Architects was only too happy to help: “The site is stunning. Our clients had spent a decade working in the UK when we began working with them. They were in the process of returning to the blue skies and surf of home, so I think the idea of a true Australian beach house was like a dream.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Josh and Rachel and their twin boys just starting school
Location: Curl Curl, a suburb of Sydney’s Northern Beaches
Size: Enclosed spaces add up to about 250 square metres, including 4 bedrooms
Cost: Construction was about $1.2 million
Sliding timber screens protect the western exterior from the elements. They also serve to shelter a private barbecue area from the prevailing north-easterly winds.
Part of the challenge was building the home on a site consisting of different levels, while maintaining a graceful structure from the street. You wouldn’t know it from the curb, but although the site steps up from the pavement, it then steps down to the rear garden – across its width it falls an entire storey. The long garage and storage area takes up the cross fall.
“The spaces of the house are composed of elemental volumes stacked, offset and stretched to allow for site falls, to define external spaces and to unfold towards the views,” describes Mackenzie.
Part of the challenge was building the home on a site consisting of different levels, while maintaining a graceful structure from the street. You wouldn’t know it from the curb, but although the site steps up from the pavement, it then steps down to the rear garden – across its width it falls an entire storey. The long garage and storage area takes up the cross fall.
“The spaces of the house are composed of elemental volumes stacked, offset and stretched to allow for site falls, to define external spaces and to unfold towards the views,” describes Mackenzie.
Above all, the design needed to be robust and embrace its location. Each room is tilted towards the view and small balconies off the dining and main bedroom provide a viewing platform towards the coastline. The family room opens onto the garden and pool area.
Large storage tanks recycle roof water back to the toilets and laundry.
Large storage tanks recycle roof water back to the toilets and laundry.
The entry brings guests into the centre of the house adjacent the main staircase. Guests gravitate towards the kitchen and dining area, which face east over the ocean, pool and garden.
Branching out onto a deck, the open-plan kitchen and dining area is ideal for family entertaining. Al fresco breakfasts and barbecues can be enjoyed with the expansive view in the background.
A window has been cut into the splashback, pouring in natural light and increasing the appeal of this indoor-outdoor kitchen. The timber kitchen and coastal blue pendants suit the beach style interior to a tee.
Hardwood timber traces an abstract form around the staircase, providing a feature that marks the beginning of the living room and the end of the entertaining space.
“The entire ground floor of the main living area is polished concrete that is well exposed to winter sun and includes gas-fired hydronic in-slab-heating,” says Mackenzie.
On the sustainable nature of the design, he adds: “The slab is fully insulated and provides base heating to the entire house, as well as providing thermal inertia during the summer months.”
On the sustainable nature of the design, he adds: “The slab is fully insulated and provides base heating to the entire house, as well as providing thermal inertia during the summer months.”
With the dining room and deck beyond, the laid-back living area connects the spaces while also sheltering them from the dominant coastal breezes.
An entryway sidles alongside the house on flagstones and decking, beside a tiered native garden and drystone walls, all allowing for ocean views.
Recycled timber sleepers and pebbles provide a pervious yet robust driveway in front of a garage concealed with flush hardwood cladding.
The garage tucks into the basement and connects to the main stair and lower ground family room.
The garage tucks into the basement and connects to the main stair and lower ground family room.
Outdoor lighting keeps the pool as inviting by night as it does by day. The view across the pool to the timber bleacher seats leading to the living areas showcases the clever structure of the front of the house. The rooms above project out at different angles to capture the view.
“The owners are able to watch the entire day unfold: the Nor’easter come up; the tides and surf change; and they can trace the sun’s path around the house.”
Now that is an Australian dream.
“The owners are able to watch the entire day unfold: the Nor’easter come up; the tides and surf change; and they can trace the sun’s path around the house.”
Now that is an Australian dream.
The show-stopping pool is a refreshing teaser of the ocean beyond. Timber bleacher seats provide a warm place to read a paper while the owners watch over the children swimming … in between having a dip or two themselves.