Northern Rivers Beach House in Northern NSW, Australia by REFRESH*DESIGN

Article source: REFRESH*DESIGN

Located in a beachside setting, the architectural brief for this project was to design a contemporary, yet cost effective three-bedroom house, well connected to nature and featuring subtropical open-plan living in a temperate climate. The initial premise for the design was to ‘re-interpret’ the beach house by integrating traditional materials of corrugated metal, fibre cement sheeting and timber elements, onto a contemporary and dynamic shape.

Image Courtesy © Damien Bredberg Photography

• Architects: REFRESH*DESIGN (Erhard Rathmayr & Monika Obrist)
• Project: Northern Rivers Beach House
• Location: South Golden Beach, Northern NSW, Australia
• Photography: Damien Bredberg Photography
  
• Structural engineers: Incode Engineers
• Builder: Shinoharra Owner Builder
• Certifier: Byron Shire Council
• Timeline: 2014

Image Courtesy © Damien Bredberg Photography

The restraints of a small site area, low budget and restrictions due to flooding, resulted in exploring the unconventional concept of a cantilevered structure, with both ends overhanging and counterbalancing each other. Using steel for the major structural elements, and timber for the secondary structure, a very economical and bridge-like architecture was created to inspire a soaring visual effect. Working with a small budget required the use of innovative or unconventional details to achieve the desired design outcome.

Image Courtesy © Damien Bredberg Photography

Image Courtesy © Damien Bredberg Photography

This house incorporates sustainable design principles, and has been planned to take advantage of natural ventilation, passive solar design and a very economical use of space. Building materials, with sustainable credentials were used such as plantation timber, bamboo for flooring, and plywood for ceilings. The abstraction of the timber-battened vernacular of subtropical architecture adds movement and scale to the house.

Image Courtesy © Damien Bredberg Photography

Image Courtesy © Damien Bredberg Photography

About refresh*design

refresh*design is an architectural & environmental graphic design studio based in Brisbane, that specialises in creating contemporary, tailor-made, highly functional residences, offices and commercial venues. Design expertise in residential structures, include: single residences, townhouses, apartment buildings, multi-generational dwellings (‘gardenhouses’), subdivisions and small-medium-scale developments.

Image Courtesy © Damien Bredberg Photography

Image Courtesy © Damien Bredberg Photography

Australian Institute of Architects 2015 Gold Coast / Northern Rivers Regional Award JURY STATEMENT

“This understated elevated residence blends well with its sub-tropical coastal landscape. It exhibits architectural and structural resolution in an innovative way, within a clear functional planning framework. The design management process with this project was well conveyed, and a cost effective exemplar for this constrained site was achieved. The realisation of Stage 2 with its’ informed site planning, will contribute well to this evolving coastal community.”

Image Courtesy © Damien Bredberg Photography

Image Courtesy © Damien Bredberg Photography

Image Courtesy © REFRESH*DESIGN

Tags: Australia, Northern NSW

Categories: Beach House, House, Residential

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