Avoca Beach House

The brief – Replace our much-loved beach weekender of 20 years with a contemporary build that retains the spirit of the original fibre cement holiday home – and accommodates our multi-generational family.

The result – A modern realisation of the dream Australian beach house. Surrounded by towering eucalypts and bush land, the new two-storey, one-room wide structure is clad in dark painted fibre cement so as to recede quietly into the background vegetation.

A timber bridge entry references the child-like delight of tree houses. The building’s compact footprint and reimagined living spaces featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that capture the northern sun and views to the beach imbue the home with an innate sense of calm, intimacy and relaxation. It’s an adaptable retreat that feels equal parts cosy, for the owner-couple, and spacious for when their children and grandchildren come to stay – thanks in part to a large timber deck that cantilevers off the living area and creates the feeling of being outside among the trees.

The feeling – A contemporary tree house, open to the breeze, the northern light and the joy of family summer holidays.