The original structure on site was affectionately known as 'Cake House' by the local community. Its sharp, kite like shape provided the coastal town of Mollymook with an icon and a way-finding point for surfers. Respecting and upgrading this iconic shape became the overarching concept for the project. Additionally, aim of this project was to celebrate the existing and prioritise resource efficiency, by re-using existing and recycled materials in order to re-life this beach home for the next generation. The project champions being both high craft and high performing, merging Passive House and passive design principles. The result is a home that can operate in a mixed mode strategy, is technically robust yet passively adaptive to the local environment. It operates as 100% electric and Net Zero energy use (-7,000kWh/yr back to the grid) with an onsite PV system. The Cake House has offered a unique opportunity to combine respectful resource utilisation, with operational efficiency in a well crafted manner. 

Part of the design strategy was to sensitively integrate the new works into the existing site, without extending too far beyond the original building footprint. As well as, enhance the connection to the local flora, beach and waves. The extensive outdoor terrace, coupled with the Eastern facing glazing, provides various opportunities to visually and physically connect the external environment. We worked hard to optimise the layout to make flexible spaces, that could accommodate many people in such a way so as not to feel over crowded. We elevated the living space to celebrate the sea views with an outdoor room merging down to landscape via generous amphitheater seating. The bedrooms on the lower ground floor act as a bunker for insulated thermal mass with a robust structure to resist impacts of climate change.

Materials were selected for their durability and low embodied carbon, including; retaining existing concrete, new carbon neutral concrete, recycled hardwood cladding, AHJ recycled hardwood windows, existing aluminum cladding as formwork and carbon neutral tapware.