Bermagui Beach House
“When we first visited the site with the owner it was mid-winter and freezing cold. A lot of what was spoken about was a beautiful rich tapestry of a history growing up, being a teenager down here, being an adult, being a parent,” says Graham.
To try and capture these feelings, the architects went for an icy swim in the blue pools that sit directly below the site, surrounded by a strong, distinctively grey weathered landscape.
“One of the things about being on the coast is it’s cold and it can be rough and windy when you’re outside. So the house is a beacon you can come back to, use that beautiful outdoor shower, warm up, come inside and feel sheltered without being disconnected from that landscape,” says Graham.
Drawing from the experience of swimming and walking back to the house, Graham designed it from the perspective of experiencing the home barefoot, at first the exterior features - including the outdoor shower and the GB Masonry Blocks pavers which connect the outdoors to inside - followed by the interior.
Consequently, robust materials in natural and textural tones abound. The materials are chosen purposefully to “weather with age and patina and have grace”. Warm grey timber battens allow views, while also protecting privacy.
“Externally, the deliberate weathering of timber cladding and dune-like landscaping reflect its rugged context. Interiors feature a carefully curated palette of white surfaces, soft sand, timbers and robust blockwork; an elegant minimalist iteration of rockpools, beaches and cliffs nearby,” says Winter Architecture’s Jean Graham.
Throughout the home, creamy GB Masonry blocks line the walls, their design minimal and subtle, yet sturdy.
"We closely assessed many block samples, having a specific image in mind of a minimalist but tactile block that would project an image of the coastal surrounds. The Porcelain finish of the GB Smooth block provided this beautifully. Additionally, the long narrow format of the half-height series used provides a neat module with regularly articulated horizontal joints,” says Embry.
Additionally, says Graham, “the beautiful reverse GB Masonry Block veneer allows for a softening and dampening of all the acoustic disruptions”.
Through its material strength, the home at once reflects the strength and humbling forces of the Bermagui elements, while also protecting from them.
“What you’ll find when you enter the rooms is this peaceful sound. It’s got a real strength and weight to it. The building is really solid,” says Graham.
The minimal use of black in the home is intentional, reflecting the sentiment of the coastline and avoiding bringing the moody tonality of Melbourne up the coast, according to the Melbourne-based architect. “The idea is to relax,” she adds.
The simplicity of the blockwork functions in harmony with the external views; rather than competing with the expansive scenery, it acts as a soft canvas, enveloping and welcoming the exterior inside through broad windows.
“Every view is tailored from every particular point in the home so that you can experience and maximise those vantage points. Every time you walk into a different room you have a different experience of not only the home, but also the surrounding landscape,” says Graham.
“There’s this sense of being embraced by the building which is really comforting.”
“One of the things about being on the coast is it’s cold and it can be rough and windy when you’re outside. So the house is a beacon you can come back to, use that beautiful outdoor shower, warm up, come inside and feel sheltered without being disconnected from that landscape.”
“One of the things about being on the coast is it’s cold and it can be rough and windy when you’re outside. So the house is a beacon you can come back to, use that beautiful outdoor shower, warm up, come inside and feel sheltered without being disconnected from that landscape.”
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