The Evolution of the 1960s Beachcomber House to Today's Platform Home
The iconic Beachcomber house has had a major influence on our country, slowly evolving into the stunning contemporary platform home
Briony Darcy
5 October 2014
Houzz Australia Contributor. Principal of DE atelier Architects. I live and breathe architecture with my lovely husband and fellow architect, Leon Eyck. We travelled the world together seeking gastronomic delights and beautiful architecture. Homeward bound, we set up our practice and started our little family. My passion is family and the unique architecture that makes a home and soul for a family.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Principal of DE atelier Architects. I live and breathe... More
The genesis of the post-and-beam platform home can be traced to the 1960s when a housing revolution was about to begin. Post war, the start-up company Lend Lease, founded by visionary Dick Dusseldorp, saw a new way to provide housing to the masses. Employing Croatian-born architect Nino Sydney, the company reinvented housing as we know it today. The first project home, endeared by many in history, is known as the Beachcomber Mark I (1961) – a modernist building perched on steel stilts, and an architect-designed, open-plan family home that was affordable at a little over 4000 pounds. This home was part of five constructed to become the Lend Lease Project Homes Village in Carlingford, NSW, in 1961. Sydney designed, priced and managed the roll-out of all five Beachcombers delivered in less than a year, with the enviable track record of ‘on time and on budget’.
Over the course of history we can trace the influence of the Beachcomber, especially across our coastal suburbs, where these elevated houses can be been seen from Townsville in Queensland to Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula. Here, we look at the iconic mid-century Beachcomber, how it has influenced our suburbs and its transformation into the modern-day post-and-beam platform home.
Over the course of history we can trace the influence of the Beachcomber, especially across our coastal suburbs, where these elevated houses can be been seen from Townsville in Queensland to Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula. Here, we look at the iconic mid-century Beachcomber, how it has influenced our suburbs and its transformation into the modern-day post-and-beam platform home.
The beachcomber revolution
This was one of the first modernist homes in Australia influenced by the Bauhaus movement. Perched on steel columns, the first floor is an elegant rectilinear box with a gentle skillion opening up to the glazed front elevation and entry. The deck is cantilevered and the exposed timber beams are featured inside and out. Ahead of its time, with wall and roof insulation offered as standard, this was an early example of the open-plan living desired by homeowners today. The planning is compact, the laundry is tucked downstairs and the extensive undercroft created parking, extra entertaining space and a cool retreat from the heat.
Lend Lease was the first to package financing coupled with Sydney’s iconic modernist designs and provided affordable, elegant architecture within reach of the everyday worker.
Copyright of Lend Lease. Image provided for single-purpose use with consent of Lend Lease Building Pty Ltd. Source: Nino Sydney
This was one of the first modernist homes in Australia influenced by the Bauhaus movement. Perched on steel columns, the first floor is an elegant rectilinear box with a gentle skillion opening up to the glazed front elevation and entry. The deck is cantilevered and the exposed timber beams are featured inside and out. Ahead of its time, with wall and roof insulation offered as standard, this was an early example of the open-plan living desired by homeowners today. The planning is compact, the laundry is tucked downstairs and the extensive undercroft created parking, extra entertaining space and a cool retreat from the heat.
Lend Lease was the first to package financing coupled with Sydney’s iconic modernist designs and provided affordable, elegant architecture within reach of the everyday worker.
Copyright of Lend Lease. Image provided for single-purpose use with consent of Lend Lease Building Pty Ltd. Source: Nino Sydney
The war veteran’s modernist cousin
The T70 Kit Home, a War Service Home developed by the Department of Housing, arrived three years after the renowned Beachcomber. This design was substantially influenced in style, form and planning by its elevated ‘cousin’. The T70 is primarily differentiated by an upstairs laundry, the absence of exposed timber beams and a reduction in windows to the front elevation. Otherwise you could mistake this home for a Beachcomber. It is a testament to the affordability of the initial design that a similar model was adopted by the Department of Housing.
Department of Housing, Plan T70 & Artist Impression 1964. Image used with the permission of the Victorian Department of Human Services
The T70 Kit Home, a War Service Home developed by the Department of Housing, arrived three years after the renowned Beachcomber. This design was substantially influenced in style, form and planning by its elevated ‘cousin’. The T70 is primarily differentiated by an upstairs laundry, the absence of exposed timber beams and a reduction in windows to the front elevation. Otherwise you could mistake this home for a Beachcomber. It is a testament to the affordability of the initial design that a similar model was adopted by the Department of Housing.
Department of Housing, Plan T70 & Artist Impression 1964. Image used with the permission of the Victorian Department of Human Services
From pole house to beachcomber and beyond…
Suspended high on treated pine timber columns, we discover this platform-style home in Ocean Grove, south of Melbourne, paying homage to the Beachcomber, albeit with one less bedroom to the first floor but otherwise a similar plan. Again the laundry is nestled in the undercroft along with a studio and the semi-enclosed carport. The digression from the Beachcomber is the wraparound verandah to all four sides and the long ramp to access the first floor. A large covered extension to the side of the first floor provides a secondary carport and upper level outdoor space.
Many timber pole houses, like this one, can be found scattered around the Victorian coastline.
Original Floor Plans, Ocean Grove, Timber Pole House
Suspended high on treated pine timber columns, we discover this platform-style home in Ocean Grove, south of Melbourne, paying homage to the Beachcomber, albeit with one less bedroom to the first floor but otherwise a similar plan. Again the laundry is nestled in the undercroft along with a studio and the semi-enclosed carport. The digression from the Beachcomber is the wraparound verandah to all four sides and the long ramp to access the first floor. A large covered extension to the side of the first floor provides a secondary carport and upper level outdoor space.
Many timber pole houses, like this one, can be found scattered around the Victorian coastline.
Original Floor Plans, Ocean Grove, Timber Pole House
What might have been state of the art in the 1960s lost its sheen over time. This timber pole house lacked the refined elegance of the iconic Beachcomber. The low-pitched roof, running longitudinally, coupled with the extended outdoor decking created a squat appearance to the building form. In addition, the asbestos cladding, leaky aluminum windows and poorly constructed balustrade needed to be addressed.
In its heyday this Ocean Grove home would have enjoyed views of the Barwon River and across the bluff. Over the years this view was eroded by neighbouring developments and it was time to rethink this pole house.
Original Front Elevation, Ocean Grove, Pole House
In its heyday this Ocean Grove home would have enjoyed views of the Barwon River and across the bluff. Over the years this view was eroded by neighbouring developments and it was time to rethink this pole house.
Original Front Elevation, Ocean Grove, Pole House
…and into the 21st century
The transformation began with reprogramming the functions of the rooms. This house was inverted, the underbelly becoming the new living zone, with great outdoor living and the essential staircase leading to the upstairs bedrooms. A small extension to the side, under the line of the original eave, encompassed the laundry and powder room at ground level and a study on the upper level. This was captured within the framework of the original house – the new construction forward of the dwelling included the garage with master suite overhead which recaptured the Barwon River vista.
Renovated Floor Plans, Ocean Grove, Pole House
The transformation began with reprogramming the functions of the rooms. This house was inverted, the underbelly becoming the new living zone, with great outdoor living and the essential staircase leading to the upstairs bedrooms. A small extension to the side, under the line of the original eave, encompassed the laundry and powder room at ground level and a study on the upper level. This was captured within the framework of the original house – the new construction forward of the dwelling included the garage with master suite overhead which recaptured the Barwon River vista.
Renovated Floor Plans, Ocean Grove, Pole House
A new Beachcomber essence
Part of what makes the Beachcomber striking is the strong horizontal form of the box seemingly floating above the ground on fine stilts. The metamorphosis of this home strips away the walls, back to the columns. The underbelly is infilled with glazing, reinstating the floating appearance. The awkward roof is hidden behind a new parapet creating a strong horizontal line reinforced by repetition at the balustrade. The parallel lines emphasise the extremities creating the box-like appearance at the upper level. This design is no longer the poor cousin but embraces the essence of the Beachcomber.
Renovated Front Elevation, Ocean Grove, Pole House
Part of what makes the Beachcomber striking is the strong horizontal form of the box seemingly floating above the ground on fine stilts. The metamorphosis of this home strips away the walls, back to the columns. The underbelly is infilled with glazing, reinstating the floating appearance. The awkward roof is hidden behind a new parapet creating a strong horizontal line reinforced by repetition at the balustrade. The parallel lines emphasise the extremities creating the box-like appearance at the upper level. This design is no longer the poor cousin but embraces the essence of the Beachcomber.
Renovated Front Elevation, Ocean Grove, Pole House
Beauty is in the bones
The heart of pole house is the post and beam construction supporting the structure of the house. The poles are set in a grid pattern and across three sides large timber-framed glass doors slot neatly between each column encasing the underbelly of the house. The bones of the house are proudly displayed, stained a rich dark auburn, setting a rhythm internally and across the facade.
See more of this home
Renovated Interior, Ocean Grove, Pole House
The heart of pole house is the post and beam construction supporting the structure of the house. The poles are set in a grid pattern and across three sides large timber-framed glass doors slot neatly between each column encasing the underbelly of the house. The bones of the house are proudly displayed, stained a rich dark auburn, setting a rhythm internally and across the facade.
See more of this home
Renovated Interior, Ocean Grove, Pole House
Finally, the contemporary post-and-beam platform house
The tradition of the post and beam lives on and provides a modern aesthetic to this day. The rigidity of the posts in this Bronte, Sydney, home perversely creates a flexibility of open space and freedom from walls. This example demonstrates how, by moving the posts to the exterior of the building, we are provided with a vast, generous and seemingly endless vista
See more of this home
The tradition of the post and beam lives on and provides a modern aesthetic to this day. The rigidity of the posts in this Bronte, Sydney, home perversely creates a flexibility of open space and freedom from walls. This example demonstrates how, by moving the posts to the exterior of the building, we are provided with a vast, generous and seemingly endless vista
See more of this home
And here using steel…
This home showcases a seamless integration of inside and out with the extension of steel beams protruding beyond the transparent facade and setting the boundary within the landscape.
It’s wonderful to see the simplicity of the post and beam construction revered by our modernist forbearers, and eloquently encapsulated in Nino Sydney’s Beachcomber houses, continuing to influence architecture today. From simple flat box-like designs, to taking the framework outside of the box for striking aesthetic appeal, it will be interesting to watch the next phase of the classic Beachcomber.
TELL US
Do you own a Beachcomber-style house or one of its derivatives? We’d love to see a photo of it any hear about any renovations in the comments section.
MORE
The Queenslander: Beautiful, Enduring and Here to Stay
So You Live in a…Box-Style House
How to Choose the Right Weatherboard Material for Your Home
This home showcases a seamless integration of inside and out with the extension of steel beams protruding beyond the transparent facade and setting the boundary within the landscape.
It’s wonderful to see the simplicity of the post and beam construction revered by our modernist forbearers, and eloquently encapsulated in Nino Sydney’s Beachcomber houses, continuing to influence architecture today. From simple flat box-like designs, to taking the framework outside of the box for striking aesthetic appeal, it will be interesting to watch the next phase of the classic Beachcomber.
TELL US
Do you own a Beachcomber-style house or one of its derivatives? We’d love to see a photo of it any hear about any renovations in the comments section.
MORE
The Queenslander: Beautiful, Enduring and Here to Stay
So You Live in a…Box-Style House
How to Choose the Right Weatherboard Material for Your Home
Related Stories
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Great Aussie Shearing Shed Inspires a Family Home
By Joanna Tovia
Designers with a love of the Australian vernacular build the life of their dreams in the country
Full Story
Most Popular
So You Live in a... Federation House
From the 1890s, it was a new architecture for a new nation. Today, its characteristic features are worth copying, preserving or restoring
Full Story
News Stories
People's Choice Award: Meet the Houzz VIVID Design Winners
By Joanna Tovia
The 2017 Houzz VIVID Design People’s Choice Award winner is one in a sea of furniture and lighting standouts
Full Story
Most Popular
How to Pick the Right Paint Colours for Your Federation House
By Joanna Tovia
Roof colour, wall materials and emerging trends all come into play for Federation paint schemes that work
Full Story
Architecture
The Clever Redesign of a Tiny Worker's Cottage in Melbourne
In an edited extract from 'Small House Living Australia', we poke around a beguiling worker's cottage in Melbourne
Full Story
Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Making a New Home Abroad in Melbourne
A British family's new Australian house is open, sustainable and flexible for long-staying relatives
Full Story
Decorating
Designer Profiles: Meryl Hare On the Power of Layering
By Nicky Lobo
With decades of experience under her belt, the queen of layering shares her insights on stylish interior design
Full Story
Architecture
Best Houses of 2017: Design Standouts Sweep Architecture Awards
By Joanna Tovia
This year's Houses Awards have honoured the most impressive architect-designed homes and additions across Australia
Full Story
Architecture
Picture Perfect: 45 Epic Homes That Celebrate Australia
By Grace Chamia
From beach and bush to the back of Bourke, these amazing homes are just another reason why we're proud to call Australia home
Full Story
Lifestyle
How to Be a Proud Aussie at Home
By Joanna Tovia
Celebrate all the wonderful things about our sunburnt country this Australia Day, and in the days that follow
Full Story
We start renovating our 1962 Beachcomber style home this Monday! Filling in downstairs first. The lime green kitchen in original condition still holds it's fresh quirky novelty for us so we will be leaving as is for a while.
Lots of beachcomber style homes in our area, (Davistown on the NSW Central Coast) have been renovated considerate of the classic shape and style of the original homes so we have found great inspiration in our local area.
Hi yes we own the mark2 in faulconbridge that nino helped restore. Billy 0431434904