![Northern Rivers Beach House / refresh*design - Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55ad/8486/e58e/ce0f/5400/02aa/newsletter/portada_NRBH_02_hires.jpg?1437435001)
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Architects: refresh*design
- Year: 2014
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Photographs:Damien Bredberg
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Manufacturers: Cosentino, Classic Ceramics, James Hardie, Laminex, Lysaght, SHE Lights, Westinghouse
![Northern Rivers Beach House / refresh*design - Facade, Windows, Garden](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55ad/83a0/e58e/ce0f/5400/02a4/newsletter/NRBH_01_hires.jpg?1437434773)
Text description provided by the architects. 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 / refresh*design - Windows, Facade, Garden](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55ad/844f/e58e/ce0f/5400/02a9/medium_jpg/NRBH_11_hires.jpg?1437434947)
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.
![](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55ad/86b7/e58e/ce0f/5400/02af/newsletter/upper_floor_plan.jpg?1437435566)
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 / refresh*design - Countertop, Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55ad/83cc/e58e/ce12/db00/02d3/newsletter/NRBH_05_hires.jpg?1437434818)
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 / refresh*design - Wood, Facade, Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55ad/83b1/e58e/ce12/db00/02d2/medium_jpg/NRBH_03_hires.jpg?1437434789)
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. Building materials, with sustainable credentials were used such as plantation timber, bamboo for flooring, and plywood for ceilings.
![Northern Rivers Beach House / refresh*design - Wood, Table, Facade, Beam, Windows, Deck, Handrail, Balcony](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/55ad/83da/e58e/ce0f/5400/02a6/newsletter/NRBH_06_hires.jpg?1437434831)
The abstraction of the timber-battened vernacular of subtropical architecture adds movement and scale to the house.