Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects

Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Exterior Photography, Wood, Garden, ConcreteBundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Table, Countertop, Sink, ChairBundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Exterior Photography, GardenBundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Exterior Photography, Garden, CourtyardBundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - More Images+ 34

Bundeena, Australia
  • Design Team: John Grove
  • City: Bundeena
  • Country: Australia
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Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Exterior Photography
© Michael Nicholson Photography

Text description provided by the architects. A weekend escape with a strong connection to its environment, this is a house of its context. A house of its environment. A house of its section. A house with a native roof garden as its primary elevation, and a sculptural skylight as its primary interface. A house with a playful interaction between inside and outside, public and private. 

Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Exterior Photography, Wood, Garden, Concrete
© Michael Nicholson Photography
Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Exterior Photography, Garden, Courtyard
© Michael Nicholson Photography

The house does not attempt to relate to its built context but rather stands in contrast to it, providing a moment of relief in the street. Set low, the house presents its roof as its primary elevation. Conceived as a native garden, the roof announces the house to the community, connecting the street with the water and expanding the adjacent reserve. A sculptural skylight glows at night, signaling the house beneath, drawing sunlight inside, and connecting the inside out, encouraging a playful interaction with the sun’s movement. 

Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Image 35 of 39
Ground floor plan
Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Image 39 of 39
Section

Beneath its roof, the house is conceived as an object in its landscape. A corten sleeping box emerges from the hill, floating above a glass living box, intersected by a timber mulit-purpose box. Clearly articulated, each box is clad in a single durable material, selected in direct response to the coastal location. With fixed perforated corten screens to the sleeping box windows and a fixed pergola to the glass box living spaces, operable elements are minimised to reduce maintenance in the corrosive coastal environment. 

Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Facade
© Michael Nicholson Photography
Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Exterior Photography, Wood
© Michael Nicholson Photography

The house serves to connect the inhabitants with the landscape beneath and beyond while engaging them with the transience of the environment surrounding them. It harnesses that environment for light, breeze, heat, power, and water while protecting the occupants from the harshness of its elements. 

Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Interior Photography, Table, Countertop, Windows
© Michael Nicholson Photography
Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Countertop, Table, Sink, Chair
© Michael Nicholson Photography

A large skylight and void invite day-long solar penetration. Its butterfly shape restricts penetration to strategically oriented, vertical triangular panes, preventing overheating, while encouraging a playful interaction with the sun’s movement. Controlled openings with fixed perforated screens to the upper-level windows, and a pergola to the lower level, provide protection from the western sun. 

Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Interior Photography, Living Room
© Michael Nicholson Photography

In addition to its ecological benefits, the green roof reduces heat absorption, provides insulation, and reduces solar gain and heat loss. Collected rainwater is recycled to irrigate the garden, while a sixteen panel 5.7kW photovoltaic system and Tesla battery, seen as a linear reflection pond within the roof garden design, provides all the owner’s electricity needs. It was important with the PV panels, that they are thoroughly integrated into the house and roof garden design, serving as an example of how environmental features can enhance, rather than detract, from a design. 

Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Interior Photography, Bedroom, Windows
© Michael Nicholson Photography
Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Interior Photography
© Michael Nicholson Photography

The house is gas-free, with the PVs providing all electricity, hot water, heating, cooling and cooking needs. The only fossil fuel the house uses is minimal surplus electricity needs from the grid. While it uses collected rainwater for garden irrigation, the house itself is connected to the main water supply. 

Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects - Exterior Photography, Waterfront
© Michael Nicholson Photography

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Cite: "Bundeena Beach House / Grove Architects" 09 Feb 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/933417/bundeena-beach-house-grove-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

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