Inside a Modern Australian Beach House with an Architectural Edge | estliving.com

Located on the traditional land of the Yuin People, Bermagui Beach House by Winter Architecture showcases the adaptability of masonry and how it connects the interiors and architecture with the landscape and water beyond.

Melbourne-based firm Winter Architecture sought to unify the relationship between the client and their surrounding environment through a thoughtful and sympathetic design. In this exclusive film series in partnership with Brickworks, architects Jean Graham and Helen Pallot take us on a private tour through Bermagui Beach House. Together they unveil a tranquil coastal holiday home fit for extended family that is both sensitive and hard-wearing, courtesy of a tactile material palette that explores the versatility of masonry materials.

The beach house overlooks Bermagui Beach on New South Wales’s Sapphire Coast, perched on a clifftop bordering Bermagui’s famed Blue Pools. Winter Architecture were brought on board to reinvent an existing weatherboard shack that had been in the family for decades. “I feel like we were able to tap into the spirit and the story of why the family come to Bermagui,” Jean says.

With this classic style of Australian architecture front of mind, the beach house was completely redesigned, fusing informal character with clean minimalism. A timber-clad exterior envelopes the structure, while blockwork from Austral Bricks becomes the primary material that continues the flow from the exterior to the interior. The blockwork also forms the foundation within the coastal home and works cohesively with the openings on each façade that embrace the proximity to the lush, native landscaping. “The materiality will age over time. The steel and the timber blend well together, and the masonry extending internally to externally allows for that seamless relationship and timeless, grounded nature,” Jean explains. The structure features three pavilions and sits on the rear boundary of the site to engage the full scope of the landscaping while orientating to the ocean vistas.

At the northernmost point, the main living pavilion centres itself toward the views. An open-plan kitchen spills into the dining, dropping into the living room with a sofa filling the space. Designed with ample room for extended family to join year-round, an Obliqa Ergo Focus suspended fireplace anchors the room.

This sentiment of bringing people together is echoed in the addition of a guest pavilion, connecting to the main building through a glazed link. Flexible rooms can turn into guest bedrooms, opening to the sheltered courtyards, while the palette of silver timber and white tiles continues throughout the beach house.

The Bermagui Beach House exterior features darker, durable timber cladding, set to weather and age in time and evocative of the raw dune-like landscape. However, the light paving begins outside, connecting to the interior in a deliberate consciousness of contemplative spaces and purposeful transitions.

As Winter Architecture narrates, this is a home to be explored entirely barefoot. Bermagui Beach House is a calming counterpoint to the rugged coastal environment and a restorative base for family getaways. “When you think of a Summer holiday, and you think of those beautiful moments, this is the place setting where you would have those moments, where you can feel like part of the sea,” Helen says.

Filmed and edited by Cheer Squad for est living
Words by Megan Rawson

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Location: Eora Country / Sydney, Australia
Design by Winter Architecture
Landscape by Kelly Royle Landscape Architecture

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[astridsaint-john]

I love the use of materials such as timber and bricks inside and out utilised in this home and how it naturally nestles into the coastal environment.

[kimmyhill]

Really enjoyed how she spoke of the place - a number of good sentences that makes one stop and think

[nic_black]

One of the most appealing aspects of this property is its simplicity. Sometimes, all you need is time away from the constraints of your everyday homes. This home provides a serene environment where you can truly disconnect from the outside world and immerse yourself in tranquillity.

From the moment you step into the house, it has a beautiful vibe that instantly promotes relaxation. With carefully curated interiors, soothing colors, and cozy furnishings, every corner exudes a sense of calmness and comfort.

[meganmayrawson]

A holiday home that sits as one with the surrounding NSW coastline! The seamless blending of materiality will age so beautifully over time. Well done Winter Architecture.

[threekids]

Love the neutral materiality of this home. The light timber floorboards paired with the light coloured bricks and the wall paint colour, all allow for the amazing landscape to be highlighted through the large windows. I just love it.

[askdeborahrobertson]

That lounge room! Wow! This house feels so calming and so far away from a traditional home feel. Stunning views too. I can imagine sitting by that beautiful fireplace and watching the whales in the sea.

[CarolynKurul-wh]

The design of this home is both beautiful and clever - taking advantage of the amazing ocean views while incorporating practical elements. The interior and exterior brickwork blends harmoniously with the other materials used and creates a seamless transition between inside & out.

[obmaichindenis]

The production is just as incredible as the home. Thank you!

[emmyfordd]

This feels like a classic Australian beach house, even in Winter it feels inviting and cosy. I could sit there and watch the ocean for hours.

[ChloeRogerson]

A beautiful location for a beautiful home! I love the use of bricks from floor to wall - well done.

[miffycoady.]

WOW those whales 💙Gorgeous holiday home, I would watch the ocean from that living room year round. Love the internal brickwork and white suspended fireplace. Congratulations Winter Architecture.

[hifiandmtb]

They would have excellent water pressure & superb mobile phone reception!

[Mooooty]

Scenic serene views of power lines spewing across the skyline from every window....idyllic.

[S.S]

This Channel's Production Quality Is As Beautiful As The Homes.

[sophiemlewis]

This home has an unparalleled position above Bermagui's blue pool. Winter Architecture have levelled up to the location with this architectural beach house and its enduring and tactile material palette, reflective of the coastal context.

[jonathanjacob]

It beautiful but cold and dystopian for a multi generational family holiday home.

[TheSushmaHomeSellingTeam]

What do you mean the best living room? Looks like all parts of this house are at their best 👏🏼💯

[danaparsons]

Such a "first world" thing to say that this vacation home feels so different from the "regular" house, so you can be sure to know you're at your vacation home. Ha!

[directresolution]

Why do all the Australian house videos show so little of the house and constantly have move at a speed that disorientates. Sit still, frame the shot, the eyes and the mind need a little rest to take things in!

[StevenCudnoch-oogp]

Everything is well designed, one thing I observed is that the white brick feels forced.