In the hands of the right designer, a carefully crafted arrangement of brick and mortar can help to elevate an already stunning outlook into a true celebration of the coast’s natural beauty.
That’s how the team at Graham Jones Design approached ‘Whale Watcher’ on this breathtaking site, guided by the client’s request to curate their experience of the waters of Logans Beach – where female Southern Right whales return to calve during the winter months.
Driven by the obvious need to maximise the access and experience of the vista, Graham Jones Design started the design process by carefully considering the siting of the dwelling in terms of its height on the sloping site and how it would be oriented. As the concept progressed, the design team soon found themselves favouring an ‘H’ shaped floor plan where bedrooms and living areas could be located towards the water, and service areas away from the view. The layout proved essential to providing the clients with a central alfresco space that could be opened to the outdoors or completely shut off from the elements when required, as well as a patio area flanked by the two ‘wings’ of the building to shelter from the harsh coastal winds.
Crafting multiple indoor-outdoor spaces to cater to ever-changing conditions throughout the year is a clear and consistent consideration of Graham Jones Design homes – one that certainly isn’t lost on this property.
In line with the client’s other principal request – to make a statement while blending seamlessly with the neighbouring houses and landscape of the hill – the design is unique and has a strong sense of character without standing out from the crowd. The distinctive skillion roofs – simple and effective – and clean lines of the design help to generate a sense of individuality, whilst the material palette of recycled red brick, timber, and steel cladding offers a sense of subtlety to its appearance. The clever use of the brick and timber – used more sparingly than it appears – generates a familiar domestic appearance, while the forms themselves speak to something far more contemporary. The front face of the home wraps seamlessly around to an all-steel rear elevation, which will prove the most durable facing the coastline and disappearing into the hill from below.
A staple of any well-designed contemporary home, ‘Whale Watcher’ has also been configured with rainwater harvesting systems, solar power, natural ventilation for passive temperature control, great access to natural light and drought resilient landscaping to help reduce the client’s ongoing footprint in such a special part of the world. Graham Jones Design suggest that these are simple principles that can be integrated into any new home so long as they are carefully considered during the early stages of design – which is great not only for the environment, but for far more enjoyable living conditions as well.
A focus on the day-to-day experience is quite obvious when visiting the home, where cool and soft tones of timer, white and greys along with subtle textural additions and fixtures make for an exceptionally tranquil collection of spaces. The contrast between the comfortability of the home’s interior against the backdrop of harsh, crashing waves is quite mesmerising.
By now the proud owners of ‘Whale Watcher’ have settled into their beautiful new home and are keenly awaiting the winter months, where they can perch up in the kitchen, the sitting room or in the alfresco with a warm drink in hand, while enjoying nature’s beauty in quiet comfort.
Visit grahamjonesdesign.com.au or get in touch with a member of the team via 0477 394 864 or email reception@grahamjonesdesign.com.au to learn more.
