Located in the highly sought after “golden grid,” Byron Bay’s first settlement, our clients wanted a distinct holiday home that would feel comfortable for just them or filled with family and friends. Inspired by the context of the Heritage Conservation Area we appropriated the bungalow typology. We designed a single-storey house with a modest, yet confident contemporary street frontage, behind which an expansive oasis unfolds. Stretching the length of the site, wrapping a pool and garden, it includes an accommodation wing plus a multi-purpose guest suite with a separate entrance and garage to the rear lane.

We have designed a house that while appearing simple, is rich in spatial experience. The exaggerated pitched roof gives the house presence in the street and supports voluminous spaces inside that contain the living areas, master bed and study. A central spine creates an ease of movement and offers intriguing vistas. Circulation zones have tiled floors and lower ceiling heights, contrasting with dramatic ceiling heights and polished white concrete floors of the rest. A sensuous oval pier marks the entry to the living spaces across a deep threshold. Skylights bring in shafts of light into these communal spaces assuring they are bright and animated year-round.

The sub-tropical climate of the Northern Rivers region encourages indoor and outdoor living year-round. Sliding doors are positioned to open onto courtyards and gardens, bringing the landscape in and facilitating cross ventilation. A tapered concrete canopy, held with paired fine metal columns, lines the perimeter of the central court and pool. Appearing to float, it offers shade and transition zone between inside and out. A semi-enclosed outdoor room with a concrete vaulted ceiling flows from the internal living spaces. Seats and daybeds occupy thresholds allowing our client and guests to immerse themselves in the landscape.

We relish in detailing. White, textured painted walls are paired with a combination of American oak veneer and ochre coloured joinery. A brass plate lines an edge of the front door, with fine brass shelves at the entrance and living space. Externally, a brass drip groove traverses the soffit of the concrete canopy, while a brass band sits between the painted bricks and tiles above.

While meeting planning requirements we did not want to create a heritage pastiche.  The steep hipped roof offers a protective porch and white curved walls, with a brick base and ceramic tiles above, denote the passage to the front door with a seat alcove to the side, forming a welcoming entrance. We have designed an original bold contemporary house that is respectful of the past while offering a vision for the future.