A Timber Beach House Inspired By Its Humble Predecessor

The owners of this beach shack in Flinders, Victoria were keen to preserve the intent and timber craftsmanship of the rundown original structure, while creating a more generous, light and open family home.

‘The simple resolution and structural expression of these elements are in part what inspired the structural expression of the additions,’ says director of Agius Scorpo Architects Nic Agius, who worked with owner-builders Ben and Pip David (owners of BD Furniture & Cabinetmaking and The House Whisperer Co respectively) to transform the home. 

‘Ben’s skill and craftsmanship was something we wanted to explore, and this inspired us to draw on the characteristics of the existing structure and extend them into something grand and luxurious.’ 

70 square metres at the front the home was retained to maintain its modest, low-pitched facade, followed by a generous open-plan living domain extending to outdoor decks on the north and south sides. Instead of traditional doors, spaces are subtly defined by a double-sided Cheminees Philippe fireplace, joinery, and changes in the floor plan direction.

A separate laundry at the home’s centre marks the discreet entrance to the bathroom, before the main bedroom at the rear with an en suite. 

The timber structure of the new living space references the exposed timber ceiling of the  existing dwelling, albeit with a new scale and level of craft. Nic explains, ‘We chose to employ an oversized grid structure out of reclaimed timber so this would be robust and textural and rooms would be arranged between them. On top of this was a large raked cathedral ceiling with rafters set at 45 degrees to contrast with the grid system and create a layered ceiling space.’

Smooth and bright interior materials including marble, stainless steel and white walls provide balance to that textural timber that serves as the focal point throughout. 

In matching the street-facing scale of its predecessor, the owners and Agius Scorpo Architects have created a sympathetic home that hides a generous and luxurious interior within. The home has also been brought up to modern sustainability standards, achieving a 6-star NatHERs rating.