The Quintessential Australian Beach House

Situated along the Great Mackerel Beach, north of Sydney, Hart House sits modestly and lightly along the coastal nature strip it inhabits.

All efforts were made to make as little impact to the earth as possible.

Inspired by the primal and primary shape of the ‘box’, the footprint is essentially a square. Said ‘square’ is then extruded vertically, to allow for additional levels, and with each level, an increased feeling of floating above the water to which it sits adjacent. Sitting atop a foundation of sandstone (originally from the site itself), externally the house is clad in corrugated iron, chosen for its durability and its light-weight qualities. The entire structure echoes similar values, being as light-weight as possible, and designed from a desire to have minimal impact. Internally, the palette is as uncomplicated as the exterior, with a controlled combination of timber joinery and flooring, plasterboard ceiling and exposed structural elements.

Hart House was concieved from the ideals of the typical Australian beach shack, notably and nostalgically a one-bedroom shack-type structure.

Being disconnected is at the core of how this home functions. It is oriented north-easterly to optimise the natural solar gains and conversely, the shadow potential in both the winter and summer months respectively. The exoskelton is selected to protect the home from the harsh salted environment, the cold southerly winds and the bushfire-prone landscape. Through measures such as integrated grills into the sides for cross ventilation, masses of solar panels on the roof, rainwater harvesting and waste being processed on-site, the passivity and low maintenance of this home was paramount.

Hart House is a humble abode yet incredibly intelligently engineered to optimise its location, maximise its inhabitants’ experience and have as little as possible impact on its surrounds. The result is a contemporary take on the traditional beach shack that rejoices in the ideal of simplicity.

Hart House is a humble abode yet incredibly intelligently engineered to optimise its location.