Architecture
12 Mouth-Watering Homes Overlooking the Water
Browse the incredible Australian homes that cry 'sail away with me'
Snuggled by the ocean, inspired by the sea and tapped by the beach, a home by the water is on many of our wish lists. And when it comes to the Australian dream of living by the water, these homes show us how it’s done.
Above all, these beautiful homes take cues from nature and their surroundings, and while we might not have a flat overlooking Sydney Harbour, we all have access to the natural Australian habitat. Take inspiration from the homes showcased below.
Above all, these beautiful homes take cues from nature and their surroundings, and while we might not have a flat overlooking Sydney Harbour, we all have access to the natural Australian habitat. Take inspiration from the homes showcased below.
2. Industrial-style beach house, Sunrise Beach, Noosa, Qld
Perched on the high sand dunes of Sunrise Beach, this honey timber home captures the essence of coastal living with its bold structural lines. An elevated reflection pool offers seamless integration with the Pacific Ocean.
Perched on the high sand dunes of Sunrise Beach, this honey timber home captures the essence of coastal living with its bold structural lines. An elevated reflection pool offers seamless integration with the Pacific Ocean.
3. Al fresco entertainer’s dream, Sutherland Shire, NSW
Designed to make the most of a steep site, this private home in Sydney’s south features great spaces to enjoy the water views. The pavilion was designed for entertainment and includes a large dining area, sunken spa, wall-mounted TV and a sunken fire pit area nestled underneath a large existing frangipani tree. Now that’s an escape.
Landscape designer Dean Herald worked with the water not against it. “When you are designing to a vast natural landscape as a backdrop, it’s important not to compete but to complement. If you compete, you will lose. This pavilion is simple in its architecture, so the view is not obstructed,” explains Herald. “The pool has a wet edge to provide a seamless connection between the two bodies of water.
Designed to make the most of a steep site, this private home in Sydney’s south features great spaces to enjoy the water views. The pavilion was designed for entertainment and includes a large dining area, sunken spa, wall-mounted TV and a sunken fire pit area nestled underneath a large existing frangipani tree. Now that’s an escape.
Landscape designer Dean Herald worked with the water not against it. “When you are designing to a vast natural landscape as a backdrop, it’s important not to compete but to complement. If you compete, you will lose. This pavilion is simple in its architecture, so the view is not obstructed,” explains Herald. “The pool has a wet edge to provide a seamless connection between the two bodies of water.
4. Nature-inspired sanctuary, Cape Jervis, SA
This rustic home and art studio looks south towards South Australia’s Kangaroo Island. The stone spiral was created from limestone found on the property, creating a natural feature that blends into the landscape.
See more photos of this stunning home
This rustic home and art studio looks south towards South Australia’s Kangaroo Island. The stone spiral was created from limestone found on the property, creating a natural feature that blends into the landscape.
See more photos of this stunning home
5. Easy-living holiday house, Sunshine Beach, Noosa, Qld
Leigh Boswell from Highgate House embraced the surrounds in creating a relaxed, low-maintenance family holiday home that is both visually appealing and interesting.
“There is so much light in this house; this was carefully considered when we designed the space,” says Boswell. “The blue of the ocean and sky work in beautifully as a backdrop to the natural timbers, and touches of tangerine and blue provide relevant accents. It’s casual, easy-living beach style – just what we all love when we are on holidays.”
Leigh Boswell from Highgate House embraced the surrounds in creating a relaxed, low-maintenance family holiday home that is both visually appealing and interesting.
“There is so much light in this house; this was carefully considered when we designed the space,” says Boswell. “The blue of the ocean and sky work in beautifully as a backdrop to the natural timbers, and touches of tangerine and blue provide relevant accents. It’s casual, easy-living beach style – just what we all love when we are on holidays.”
6. Resort-style living, Pelican Waters, Caloundra, Qld
Approached by the owners to create a relaxed home on the intersection of four canals, Tim Christopher of Christopher Design set about creating a space that really made the owners feel like they were constantly surrounded by water – the outdoor dining space being no exception.
“The concept works, I think, because the room is elliptical in shape and this takes away from any harsh edges you would get if you were in a rectangular room,” explains Christopher. “The southern side of the room can be closed off with timber bi-folding doors, adding protection from the cool winter breeze. The north-eastern side is open to the pool and allows for the warm winter sun to enter.”
Approached by the owners to create a relaxed home on the intersection of four canals, Tim Christopher of Christopher Design set about creating a space that really made the owners feel like they were constantly surrounded by water – the outdoor dining space being no exception.
“The concept works, I think, because the room is elliptical in shape and this takes away from any harsh edges you would get if you were in a rectangular room,” explains Christopher. “The southern side of the room can be closed off with timber bi-folding doors, adding protection from the cool winter breeze. The north-eastern side is open to the pool and allows for the warm winter sun to enter.”
7. Ocean-front home, Vaucluse, Sydney, NSW
On the southern side of the headland that opens up into Sydney Harbour, this cliff-top home enjoys incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.
Joseph Alliker and his team Rudolfsson Alliker Associates Architects worked with the clients to create a home that was protected from the strong sea winds but still had living areas with lots of sun and opened up to the outside.
“Metres from the cliff edge with spectacular views, a swimming pool, sauna, car turntable, lift and a home theatre to boot, it is the Aussie dream,” says Alliker.
On the southern side of the headland that opens up into Sydney Harbour, this cliff-top home enjoys incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.
Joseph Alliker and his team Rudolfsson Alliker Associates Architects worked with the clients to create a home that was protected from the strong sea winds but still had living areas with lots of sun and opened up to the outside.
“Metres from the cliff edge with spectacular views, a swimming pool, sauna, car turntable, lift and a home theatre to boot, it is the Aussie dream,” says Alliker.
8. Laid-back sophistication, Rose Bay, Sydney, NSW
It wasn’t easy creating this calming retreat in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, as builder David Moses from Horizon Habitats explains. “Access was very difficult to the pool area and the boathouse in particular. All excavated materials had to come out via a barge. But the outlook made it worth it,” he says. “This home has an incredibly open view of the ocean, yet is also very private, and the western outlook means you can stay by the pool until the very last minute of sunset.”
It wasn’t easy creating this calming retreat in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, as builder David Moses from Horizon Habitats explains. “Access was very difficult to the pool area and the boathouse in particular. All excavated materials had to come out via a barge. But the outlook made it worth it,” he says. “This home has an incredibly open view of the ocean, yet is also very private, and the western outlook means you can stay by the pool until the very last minute of sunset.”
9. Lap of infinity, Mona Vale, Sydney, NSW
Relaxing in the pool by the ocean with your friends and family – it’s on most Australians’ wish lists. David Simonetti from Ecobuild Construction put it into practice on Sydney’s northern beaches.
“The design is an indulgence to its surrounding landscape. Your eyes drift off the pool’s edge into the deep ocean below, instantly relaxing your mind and body. To bring the pool and ocean visually as close together as possible was a must for this home,” says Simonetti.
Relaxing in the pool by the ocean with your friends and family – it’s on most Australians’ wish lists. David Simonetti from Ecobuild Construction put it into practice on Sydney’s northern beaches.
“The design is an indulgence to its surrounding landscape. Your eyes drift off the pool’s edge into the deep ocean below, instantly relaxing your mind and body. To bring the pool and ocean visually as close together as possible was a must for this home,” says Simonetti.
10. Riverfront house, Sunshine Coast, Noosa Heads, Qld
Here’s another example of a great waterfront home with a pool that appears to bring the house closer to the water beyond. This riverfront home wraps itself around a central courtyard, using a lap pool to connect with the river.
“The indoor-outdoor spaces are seamlessly connected by stack-away, sliding-glass doors, which serve to promote an al fresco lifestyle. The central courtyard is the key organising environment. All spaces look into this space,” says architect Tim Ditchfield.
Here’s another example of a great waterfront home with a pool that appears to bring the house closer to the water beyond. This riverfront home wraps itself around a central courtyard, using a lap pool to connect with the river.
“The indoor-outdoor spaces are seamlessly connected by stack-away, sliding-glass doors, which serve to promote an al fresco lifestyle. The central courtyard is the key organising environment. All spaces look into this space,” says architect Tim Ditchfield.
11. The Harbour House, Sydney, NSW
Despite the exceptionally irresistible panoramas of Sydney Harbour beyond, the design aim of this family home was to maintain the focus on the interiors. A soft, neutral palette was used to create a calm and sophisticated home to enjoy – the view providing a tranquil accent to the space.
Despite the exceptionally irresistible panoramas of Sydney Harbour beyond, the design aim of this family home was to maintain the focus on the interiors. A soft, neutral palette was used to create a calm and sophisticated home to enjoy – the view providing a tranquil accent to the space.
12. Hotel-inspired residence, Bondi, Sydney, NSW
With views to the north across Bondi Beach, this contemporary Sydney home showcases the true nature of sophisticated beach style. Clean furniture lines allow the view to take centrestage, offset by the neutral walls and terrazzo floors used throughout.
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With views to the north across Bondi Beach, this contemporary Sydney home showcases the true nature of sophisticated beach style. Clean furniture lines allow the view to take centrestage, offset by the neutral walls and terrazzo floors used throughout.
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Architect Charles Wright bought this incredible home when it was a one-room fisherman’s shack on 170 metres of steep and unstable land. At first, the main brief was to “keep the snakes and goannas out!” but now the family embraces their nature-soaked waterside retreat that enlivens the senses – from the sounds of crabs snapping and the scent of the mangrove forest in flower, to the sight of the sunrise shadows falling across the bedroom.
The house grew around their love of the place. “Having no budget, we scrounged and recycled materials. For instance, the screens over the doors are cut down old blinds in front of salvaged plastic. The stairs are scrounged timber, rescued from an old wharf. Most materials were carried in on a three-person B-Line Canadian canoe!” says Wright.