The Aussie Beach Shack is All Grown Up
Beach-side living is becoming more sophisticated ... but hasn't forgotten its humble roots
Brodie Norris
4 July 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Editor of Lunchbox Architect, a blog that delivers an inspiring (affordable) architecturally designed home or renovation every weekday — just in time for your lunch break.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Editor of Lunchbox Architect, a blog that delivers an... More
The days when the simple fibro beach shack weekender dotted the Australian coastline may be gone, but these modern, sophisticated beach homes prove they’re not forgotten. These beach houses retain the essence of those simpler days, while pushing the beach shack into a new era.
Venus Bay Bach
Designed by MRTN Architects
This house is a modern fusion of the traditional New Zealand beach bach (pronounced as in Bachelor) and its Australian cousin, the beach shack. Set in South Gippsland, approximately two hours from Melbourne, the batten and board exterior harks back to the classic fibro and timber beach homes of the past. But don’t be fooled, this is a thoroughly modern home, inside and out. For one thing, the sustainably harvested timbers are stained a dusty green, nestling the building into the wattle and tea tree scrub on site. While a deck that recedes back into the home is its greatest, it acts as a sunny outdoor room in winter and a shaded retreat in summer. And when the wind and rain beat down (as it has a tendency to do in this lush part of Southern Victoria), the deck is the perfect sheltered place to sit back and take it all in.
Designed by MRTN Architects
This house is a modern fusion of the traditional New Zealand beach bach (pronounced as in Bachelor) and its Australian cousin, the beach shack. Set in South Gippsland, approximately two hours from Melbourne, the batten and board exterior harks back to the classic fibro and timber beach homes of the past. But don’t be fooled, this is a thoroughly modern home, inside and out. For one thing, the sustainably harvested timbers are stained a dusty green, nestling the building into the wattle and tea tree scrub on site. While a deck that recedes back into the home is its greatest, it acts as a sunny outdoor room in winter and a shaded retreat in summer. And when the wind and rain beat down (as it has a tendency to do in this lush part of Southern Victoria), the deck is the perfect sheltered place to sit back and take it all in.
Inside, a split-level design helps the home to feel open and spacious, while still providing cosy discreet spaces for different activities. In the spirit of beach bach, the house can accommodate extended family and friends, and the kids can take over the deck, while others can enjoy a moment of solitude with a good book inside. The clever design of connected but zoned spaces allows all this to happen at once – perfect for beach living.
In the kids’ bedroom, there’s something we’re all familiar with – bunk beds! The bunk room doubles as a separate living area for the children, which is very important when the house’s population swells over the summer months!
See more photos of this project
See more photos of this project
Hover House
Designed by Bower Architecture
This is an open and airy courtyard house, still within easy reach of the beach. The courtyard typology has become popular for modern beach houses; a way to protect the home and occupants from sometimes hostile coastal weather. This style is especially popular in coastal towns where the home doesn’t have the benefit of sweeping ocean views. Instead, architects create an inward looking home with a beautiful green internal space. Courtyards provide a laid-back space for parents to relax and kids to play whilst still feeling connected to the rest of the home.
Designed by Bower Architecture
This is an open and airy courtyard house, still within easy reach of the beach. The courtyard typology has become popular for modern beach houses; a way to protect the home and occupants from sometimes hostile coastal weather. This style is especially popular in coastal towns where the home doesn’t have the benefit of sweeping ocean views. Instead, architects create an inward looking home with a beautiful green internal space. Courtyards provide a laid-back space for parents to relax and kids to play whilst still feeling connected to the rest of the home.
The beautiful Hover House wraps around the sunny courtyard. Large glass sliding doors mean the house literally expands into the outdoors, making it feel much more spacious and bright. The use of timber warms an otherwise robust and honest palette of concrete floors and bricks. This stunning home is low maintenance and laid-back living at its finest.
See more photos of this project
See more photos of this project
Seal Rocks House
Designed by Bourne Blue Architecture
The exterior of this house has that familiar beach shack palette of fibre cement and corrugated iron, making it feel right at home in the beach-side town of Seal Rocks. Elegant window proportions and careful detailing are the only indications that this home is a modern interpretation of that classic style.
Designed by Bourne Blue Architecture
The exterior of this house has that familiar beach shack palette of fibre cement and corrugated iron, making it feel right at home in the beach-side town of Seal Rocks. Elegant window proportions and careful detailing are the only indications that this home is a modern interpretation of that classic style.
Once inside, it’s revealed that the Seal Rocks House is a series of utilitarian but comfortable rooms wrapped around a spacious entertaining deck. From the shelter of the central deck you can take in the vista of treetops and relax after a hard day amongst the sand and surf (or an equally hard day of relaxing).
Simple open-air bathrooms, screened only by shower curtains, really capture the spirit of holiday living – simplicity and low-fuss.
See more photos of this project
See more photos of this project
Suburban Beach House
Designed by David Barr Architect
Just because you live in the suburbs doesn’t mean you can’t live in a relaxing modern beach house. This house gives its owners the best of both worlds. Thanks to a modern interpretation which combines the humble form of the traditional West Australian beach shack with the climatic and view-enhancing benefits of the Queenslander, Suburban Beach House is efficiently planned and perfectly positioned to take full advantage of a beautiful ocean view. A weatherboard exterior speaks to its Queenslander inspiration, setting it apart from predominately brick or stone West Australian homes. Architect David Barr designed the home to challenge the conventional way of living in Perth, offering an alternative to beach-side suburban homes. The compact home is raised above the ground, has no front door, no garage, no front fence and not a brick in site…
Designed by David Barr Architect
Just because you live in the suburbs doesn’t mean you can’t live in a relaxing modern beach house. This house gives its owners the best of both worlds. Thanks to a modern interpretation which combines the humble form of the traditional West Australian beach shack with the climatic and view-enhancing benefits of the Queenslander, Suburban Beach House is efficiently planned and perfectly positioned to take full advantage of a beautiful ocean view. A weatherboard exterior speaks to its Queenslander inspiration, setting it apart from predominately brick or stone West Australian homes. Architect David Barr designed the home to challenge the conventional way of living in Perth, offering an alternative to beach-side suburban homes. The compact home is raised above the ground, has no front door, no garage, no front fence and not a brick in site…
Inside a rich plywood and timber interior echoes the warm yellows of the beach sand, while large windows and translucent polycarbonate flood the home with natural light. The airy interior screams laid-back beach-side living, while a layout that separates the house into day and night zones ensures the home is also practical for a young family.
From the partially enclosed northwest-facing outdoor room, a horizontal opening highlights the panoramic view of the ocean – the perfect spot to sit and admire the stunning ocean sunsets.
Merricks Beach House
Designed by Kennedy Nolan
Like the shacks of days gone, robust and virtually maintenance-free materials ensure the Merricks Beach House is for relaxation, not never-ending odd jobs. Timber is left to weather, while painted brickwork will stand the test of time. There’s even a touch of the beach-house classic, in the form of concrete breeze blocks, which nods to that traditional beach house aesthetic. Modern details like the circle of unpainted brick and the zigzagging block work ensure the house is proudly of this century while retaining the charms of last.
Designed by Kennedy Nolan
Like the shacks of days gone, robust and virtually maintenance-free materials ensure the Merricks Beach House is for relaxation, not never-ending odd jobs. Timber is left to weather, while painted brickwork will stand the test of time. There’s even a touch of the beach-house classic, in the form of concrete breeze blocks, which nods to that traditional beach house aesthetic. Modern details like the circle of unpainted brick and the zigzagging block work ensure the house is proudly of this century while retaining the charms of last.
The L-shaped plan of the home serves the same purpose as the courtyard homes, protecting the home from strong winds and driving rains during the winter months. This sheltered deck space becomes the ideal space for the children to play and for outdoor entertaining while still being seamlessly connected to the home.
The bedrooms are kept intentionally dark to make for a cosy place for reading and rest. Like Venus Bay Beach Bach, the bunkroom doubles as a separate kids living area – a real asset when the home is filled with extended family.
See more photos of this project
See more photos of this project
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Beautiful. These are NOT shacks!