South Beach House

THE BRIEF
The brief called for a coastal haven – one that welcomed sandy feet, sunset aperitivos and the true essence of South Fremantle living. With their children having flown the coop, the owners sought a low-maintenance home tailored to effortless beachside living, easy entertaining and relaxation. Anticipating the weekend return of their adult children, the design also included the thoughtful inclusion of two guest bedrooms.

BIG IMPACT ON A MODEST FOOTPRINT
Built boundary to boundary on a compact ten-metre-wide lot, the layout was designed to maximise every square meter, with a north-facing courtyard anchoring the striking U-shaped floor plan and channelling natural light deep into every corner of the interior. The ground floor kitchen and dining spaces open northwards, complemented by a separate lounge that frames lush outlooks to both the internal courtyard and the park beyond.

Utility zones, like the scullery and laundry, are discreetly tucked away behind the kitchen, providing seamless access to the garage, rear drying court and laneway. On the first floor, three expansive bedrooms each enjoy their own bathrooms, while a dramatic void above the dining area amplifies the sense of space and volume. On the top level, a dedicated home office, complete with in-built cabinetry, flows onto a generous rooftop terrace, creating a peaceful sanctuary for it’s occupants.

SENSE OF PLACE
There was deliberate intention for the home to maintain a continual dialogue with its surroundings to remind its occupants of exactly where they are in the world at all times. Capturing the cooling afternoon sea breeze was central to the design, with strategically placed louvres drawing it through the interiors so the home cools naturally as the day progresses. Set discreetly toward the rear of the site, the kitchen still draws the eye outward, through the living area, across the courtyard and toward the park beyond. And once the heat subsides in the evening, the rooftop terraces functions as a secondary, open-air living space, offering glimpses across to Carnac Island.

A HOME FOR GATHERING
The term ‘entertainer’ gets thrown around often, yet designing a home genuinely suited for hosting goes beyond just enlarging a room, where furniture can end up awkwardly lost amid the sheer scale. Here, the design centres on spaces that expand and contract with the rhythm of daily life. Purpose-designed glazed panels slide back to merge the courtyard and dining area, allowing a single, generous table to run seamlessly from indoors to out – ideal for long Christmas lunches and larger gatherings. Close them, and the space becomes comfortably scaled for the couple’s everyday dining. Storage, a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of entertaining, is addressed through streamlined cabinetry that houses the many dishes and platters required, and continues from the kitchen into the dining zone, and supported by further storage throughout the home.

THE THINGS YOU DON’T SEE
The timber-clad entry ‘pod’ serves to define the entry and lounge, while also discreetly concealing a host of functional elements. Tucked within its curved form sit a moody, black-tiled powder room, a structural concrete column, and the home’s integrated air conditioning system. Throughout, clever engineering enables three-metre ceiling heights on every level, amplifying the home’s sense of openness and light.

MATERIALS
The second floor is clad in black-stained Weathertex, a robust timber product enriched with beeswax for added longevity.  Recessed from the primary façade, this darker-clad third allows the home to sit in harmony with it’s two-storey neighbours despite it’s additional height. Travertine, beige plaster and oak form a coastal-appropriate yet enduring material palette, while tinted windows deliver both energy efficiency and enhanced privacy to the ground-floor living spaces. Passive design principals are woven throughout, with orientation-specific eaves and generous crossflow ventilation working in tandem to reduce the reliance on air conditioning.