Northern Rivers Beach House By refresh*design

July 13, 2015

Northern Rivers Beach House by refresh*design

 

refresh*design have sent us photos of the Northern Rivers Beach House they designed, located in South Golden Beach, Australia.

 

Northern Rivers Beach House by refresh*design

The designer’s description

Located in a beachside setting, the architectural brief for this project was to design a contemporary, yet cost effective three-bedroom house, well connected to nature and featuring subtropical open-plan living in a temperate climate.

Northern Rivers Beach House by refresh*design

The initial premise for the design was to ‘re-interpret’ the beach house by integrating traditional materials of corrugated metal, fibre cement sheeting and timber elements, onto a contemporary and dynamic shape.

Northern Rivers Beach House by refresh*design

The restraints of a small site area, low budget and restrictions due to flooding, resulted in exploring the unconventional concept of a cantilevered structure, with both ends overhanging and counterbalancing each other.

Northern Rivers Beach House by refresh*design

Using steel for the major structural elements, and timber for the secondary structure, a very economical and bridge-like architecture was created to inspire a soaring visual effect. Working with a small budget required the use of innovative or unconventional details to achieve the desired design outcome.

Northern Rivers Beach House by refresh*design

This house incorporates sustainable design principles, and has been planned to take advantage of natural ventilation, passive solar design and a very economical use of space.

Northern Rivers Beach House by refresh*design

Building materials, with sustainable credentials were used such as plantation timber, bamboo for flooring, and plywood for ceilings. The abstraction of the timber-battened vernacular of subtropical architecture adds movement and scale to the house

Northern Rivers Beach House by refresh*design

Architecture & Interiors: refresh*design – Erhard Rathmayr & Monika Obrist
Structural Engineers: Incode Engineers
Builder: Shinoharra Owner Builder
Certifier: Byron Shire Council
Photography by Damien Bredberg Photography