Project 06 · Residential · Studio project
Cabarita Beach House
A study in coastal permanence and material integrity.
For Cabarita, NSW · 2026
Building on the absolute beachfront requires a careful balance between the raw energy of the ocean and the need for a calm, private retreat. Cabarita Beach House is a response to this environment.
Concrete, timber and stone give the house a permanence that suits the Northern NSW coastline, settling it into the landscape rather than simply perching it in front of the view.
01 —The architecture acts as a lens; a central portal frames the Pacific horizon while thresholds allow for a seamless transition from the streetscape to the private realm.The path curves in from the street the way a track winds through the dunes. Sandstone piers frame the gap, wide enough to see the surf breaking beyond. A shallow pond and a pandanus sit within the opening, so the water is glimpsed through planting rather than laid out all at once.
The intent is a procession that echoes the walk down to the beach — a path winding through dune planting, the ocean appearing in glimpses through the trees before it opens out.
02 —Design integrity is found in the expansive timber deck and infinity pool, where the site-responsive layout invites direct engagement with the dunal environment.The Dunal Interface
When the sliding doors open, the living room extends onto a deck deep enough to be a room in itself, with the pool running along its outer edge and the dunes immediately beyond.
The scale of the deck is deliberate. The intent is to make room for a crowd, and to bring the house close enough to the sand that being out on the deck feels much the same as being on the beach, without ever having to leave.
Functional Materiality
Timber provides the opportunity for tactile warmth in the kitchen, contrasting with the solid, structural feel of the concrete island bench. The room opens on two sides, so daylight and sea breezes reach right through it.
The materials suit a house that opens onto sand. Polished concrete underfoot handles wet feet and grit, and the concrete and timber benchtops are built to be used rather than simply admired.
03 —Raw materials dictate the kitchen aesthetic; the choice of timber provides the opportunity for tactile warmth against the structural permanence of the concrete island.The Internal Hearth
The living space feels quiet and steady. Textured stone floors and a monolithic concrete fireplace give the room a sense of steadiness whether the house is shut against a southerly or open right through.
04 —Sensory depth is achieved through the integration of a concrete hearth and timber-clad walls, facilitating a grounded interior experience.
05 —The architecture reveals a private retreat defined by material honesty, where the rhythmic texture of timber panelling provides a soft contrast to the expansive coastal views.Acoustic Softness
The main suite is lined in timber, the battened wall behind the bed carrying the same rhythm as the joinery either side of it. Carpet underfoot makes this the one room in the house that is soft rather than hard.
Sliding doors open along the length of the room to a sheltered terrace, so the ocean is there from the bed without the room being given over to it.
06 —Longevity is prioritised by the selection of stone-clad surfaces and timber cabinetry, maintaining a connection to the geological context of the site.Geological Texture
The headland informs the use of floor-to-ceiling stone, with the grain running continuously across the joints so the walls read as one surface. Floating timber joinery and a marble top soften it, and a high window above the bath brings daylight down the stone through the day.
An Enduring Coastal Outcome
Cabarita Beach House sets heavy materials against a plan that opens on every side. Concrete, timber and stone take the weather at the perimeter, while the rooms behind them stay open to the light and the breeze.
The intent is a house that suits the way people live on this coast — sand through the door, salt in the air, and a building that can take both.
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