Our Balnarring residence is set on the foreshore of Balnarring beach. The building set on the edge of the dunes was made from a palette of materials that would sit comfortably amongst the tea tree and Moonah trees. The clients wanted a house that was relaxed suited to the rawness of the environment. They liked the single storey fibro beach shacks that still populate the area and wanted an unassuming house that could withstand families with children where people could relax and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.
The building was clad with eucalyptus green Rhine zinc with raw off form concrete detailing, and commercial grade aluminium windows, designed with the weather that comes straight off the ocean. The building is comprised of two parallel forms that are arranged to follow the irregular black shape, both arranged like two sentinels looking out to sea. the two buildings were arranged to form a protected internal courtyard out of the weather for a pool and outdoor area for entertaining.
While the building is unassuming in its scale and the quietness of its palette it is strong in the conviction of the choices made with the limited the number of materials used. While this is not minimalism, it is definitely a form of reductionism, where superfluous materials are removed and materials chosen in relation to each other, to convey a clear sentiment that best expresses the clients and how they like to live.
