Wyndham Beach House

With its distinctive C-shaped facade that wraps around from roof to ground, the various heights designed to mimic the movement of waves. First floor cantilevering forms a direct 'floating' connection that also references the nearby sea. This Victorian seaside residence escapes all the cliches long-favoured in beach house design while being cleverly tailored to make the most of it's location and magnificent views over sparkling waters and bobbing yachts at anchor. Inside, a bespoke staircase is a striking interior feature. Designed in consultation with a structural engineer, each solid timber stair tread sits perfectly in between long vertical timber battens without the need for stair stringers. This unique staircase provides a feeling of lightness to complement the floating facade and continuous flow of internal spaces. The exterior is clad with Blackbutt timber and full-height windows on the north-east facade allow passive solar thermal comfort year round. The west facade features large eaves and highlight and slot windows with low-e glass to inhibit heat storage from the sun during summer. A cantilever suspended 2.5 metres from the main bedroom hovers above decking to establish volume and allow views of the sea. It is also a response to Council guidelines that specify the building must provide an aesthetic impact as an integral part of the marina development.