Muritai Road

Currently on the drawing board.

A desire to see the sea drove the clients to leave behind the old villa and revitalise this slice of Eastbourne paradise into a contemporary home full of modern comforts. Set one block back from the beach with a buffer of houses between, the need to build up was essential to creating vistas to the ocean.

The house is set back on the site, with retaining the front garden and meandering path the key to creating a secluded suburban retreat. The house turns away from its neighbours, instead extending to the east and west aspects towards the garden. The house wraps around a courtyard positioned at the back of the section, protecting the outdoor living space from the sea breeze. A pool stretches the length of the courtyard, extending into the covered corner of the house to create a private outdoor oasis.

The form reaches upwards in a gable, creating lofty, airy living spaces on both levels. The upper floor is set back from the lower, allowing all-day sun to penetrate the courtyard below. Upstairs, the sea view is captured from the music/viewing room. Setback windows provide a private, sheltered verandah that captures the evening sunset over the harbour.

Whitewashed battens and weatherboards clad the exterior, with reclaimed timber soffits reaching inside from the double verandah. The beachy exterior is contrasted with a moody interior as a retreat from the sunny outdoor living spaces.