A Spectacularly Modernist Outdoor Living Area
Dubbed 'LA Cool', this Modernist-inspired outdoor kitchen/living room/lounge/sundeck is a sight to behold
Vanessa Walker
24 February 2020
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Images by Ben Guthrie
Answers by Shaun Carter, principal architect, Carter Williamson Architects
Who lives here: A couple, however the house is frequently filled by their family of four adult children plus partners and grandchildren
Location: Newport, NSW
Room purpose: An outdoor kitchen/living room/lounge/sundeck
Did you use Houzz for this project? Yes
Answers by Shaun Carter, principal architect, Carter Williamson Architects
Who lives here: A couple, however the house is frequently filled by their family of four adult children plus partners and grandchildren
Location: Newport, NSW
Room purpose: An outdoor kitchen/living room/lounge/sundeck
Did you use Houzz for this project? Yes
Brief
LA Cool is a series of additions and alterations to our 2015 project, Newport House. Perched above Newport Beach in Sydney’s northern beaches, LA Cool embraces the beautiful views facing north towards the beach and infinity pool, the ideal vantage point to enjoy the views.
LA Cool is a series of additions and alterations to our 2015 project, Newport House. Perched above Newport Beach in Sydney’s northern beaches, LA Cool embraces the beautiful views facing north towards the beach and infinity pool, the ideal vantage point to enjoy the views.
Our clients came to us with a vision of an outdoor living space useable all year round. They wanted a space that would accommodate their large extended family, a space that encapsulates their love of the great outdoors, a place to gather and make lasting memories.
Our solution, LA Cool, is an outdoor pavilion, lawn and pool designed for gracious living through all seasons.
Ready to renovate? Find an architect near you on Houzz to achieve your vision
Our solution, LA Cool, is an outdoor pavilion, lawn and pool designed for gracious living through all seasons.
Ready to renovate? Find an architect near you on Houzz to achieve your vision
Starting point
This project was inspired by the sleek, low-lying outdoor living spaces of American West-Coast Modernism. Favoured by American jet-setters, these low-slung living spaces are unobtrusive to surrounding homes, while simultaneously providing overhead shelter and allowing as much of the view as possible to be soaked in.
This project was inspired by the sleek, low-lying outdoor living spaces of American West-Coast Modernism. Favoured by American jet-setters, these low-slung living spaces are unobtrusive to surrounding homes, while simultaneously providing overhead shelter and allowing as much of the view as possible to be soaked in.
Though ultimately, the largest inspiration for the design was the views of Newport engulfing the site, and how to best capture them, while simultaneously allowing the outdoor living space to be used 365 days a year.
Our solution was a series of strategic, sculptural cut-outs in LA Cool’s western wall, which allow evening light to pierce through the pavilion onto the living space. This not only opens the space but also creates a wonderful, ephemeral, breathable environment, which further embraces the natural Australian landscape and views surrounding the home.
LA Cool’s design aesthetics respond to the existing home’s neutral colour palette and pared-back nature, aligning the new addition with the client’s style.
LA Cool’s design aesthetics respond to the existing home’s neutral colour palette and pared-back nature, aligning the new addition with the client’s style.
Key design aspects
Colour palette: LA Cool’s colour palette consists of whites, blacks and timbers. This natural, neutral palette brings the surrounding Australian flora within.
Materials palette:
Colour palette: LA Cool’s colour palette consists of whites, blacks and timbers. This natural, neutral palette brings the surrounding Australian flora within.
Materials palette:
- Seascape bricks from PGH Bricks & Pavers.
- Pendant lights from LAAL.
- Blackbutt timber decking.
- Roof sheeting is Night Sky from Colorbond.
- Bricks painted in Dulux Lexicon quarter.
- Caesarstone benchtops.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
LA Cool’s furniture layout has been designed around our client’s vision for an outdoor living and dining area useable throughout the year and suitable for their large extended family.
This outdoor area is theoretically broken into four distinct sections: kitchen amenities, dining, lounging and the cantilevered sundeck. Through considered open-plan design, these areas flow together seamlessly.
LA Cool’s furniture layout has been designed around our client’s vision for an outdoor living and dining area useable throughout the year and suitable for their large extended family.
This outdoor area is theoretically broken into four distinct sections: kitchen amenities, dining, lounging and the cantilevered sundeck. Through considered open-plan design, these areas flow together seamlessly.
The floor plan
What challenges did you work around?
One challenge when designing LA Cool was deciding how best to capture the views west to Pittwater, yet still maintain privacy and protection from westerly winds.
Our solution was a series of considerately positioned cut-outs to the western wall. This allows those enjoying the space to embrace the panoramic views of Newport and Pittwater, while maintaining privacy and protection from the elements.
Another challenge we faced was the slope of the sight. We solved this problem by building above the slope to maintain vantage points of the site.
One challenge when designing LA Cool was deciding how best to capture the views west to Pittwater, yet still maintain privacy and protection from westerly winds.
Our solution was a series of considerately positioned cut-outs to the western wall. This allows those enjoying the space to embrace the panoramic views of Newport and Pittwater, while maintaining privacy and protection from the elements.
Another challenge we faced was the slope of the sight. We solved this problem by building above the slope to maintain vantage points of the site.
Our favourite elements of LA Cool are the strategically positioned skylights and cut-outs, which allow natural light to pierce the space and illuminate the outdoor space. A large skylight is positioned over the lounge, while the cut-outs in the westerly wall capture evening light in the dining space. LA Cool is the outdoor living space useable all year round that our clients envisioned.
Why do you think this room works?
Our client’s aim was to have an outdoor living space they can enjoy all year round, which has been achieved. LA Cool’s cosy furnishings, fireplace, pizza oven and clever design, which cocoons warm air within during winter, also allows cool breezes to permeate the space in summer.
Our client’s aim was to have an outdoor living space they can enjoy all year round, which has been achieved. LA Cool’s cosy furnishings, fireplace, pizza oven and clever design, which cocoons warm air within during winter, also allows cool breezes to permeate the space in summer.
Your turn
What do you love about this alfresco sanctuary? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? Take a look at our last week’s Room of the Week: A Bathroom That’s a Work of Art
What do you love about this alfresco sanctuary? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? Take a look at our last week’s Room of the Week: A Bathroom That’s a Work of Art
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Can you please tell me where the lights over the table are from?
lights are conehome (arch) from Laal
Omgggggggggg soooooooooooo prettyyyyy and cosyyyyyyyyyy