This contemporary Cottesloe home was designed for an empty-nester couple, who wanted plenty of options for the coming and going of their young adult offspring.  The site is situated in an eclectic Cottesloe street just a few hundred metres from the beach, so a beach house feel and low maintenance finishes were essential.

The clients’ original brief to the architect included images of elements that were features of the mid-century, Palm Springs architectural style.  They also loved their previous rammed limestone house and were keen to give a nod to this material in their new home.  The challenge was to reference these elements, while contributing to our uniquely “Cottesloe style” architectural vernacular.  The 400mm thick warm grey stabilised rammed earth blade wall that runs through the house, anchors the palette of materials including polished concrete, skinny bricks, Barestone compressed sheeting, aluminium, painted and rendered brick.

In form, the linear nature of the design is reinforced by the use of offset curved forms in the custom designed front terrace screen and the double height curved battened ceilings in the kitchen and outdoor living areas.

From a planning perspective, the house is designed to enable living entirely on the ground floor.  The main bedroom and study suite is located at the front, the living zone is the central hub, garaging and services to the rear with the family/guest zone above.  From boundary to boundary the indoor and outdoor living areas flow seamlessly, with little definition between inside and outside.

Long term sustainability and energy efficiency was critical, so aside from all the usual passive solar design considerations, there is also a photovoltaic system with battery storage, double glazing, a high level of insulation, hydronic underfloor heating and electrically operated louvres to assist ventilation.

While exuding a sense of beachy sophistication, an element of fun is captured in the seemingly random brickwork penetrations and protrusions and the cheeky inclusion of the odd amber Venetian glass brick, casting golden sparkles in the sunlight!