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Blackwattle House by Hayley Pryor Architect
Offering a striking balance between spotted gum timber and white hues, Blackwattle House feels like taking a deep breath. Drawing on a pared-back and minimalist aesthetic, Hayley Pyror Architect creates a sanctuary-like family home that seamlessly connects with the outdoors.
Blackwattle House, an hour’s drive from the Gold Coast, is located in Casuarina in coastal northern New South Wales. Just 70 metres from the beach, the home is an eloquent and practical response to the serenity and the, at times, harsh elements of the windswept locale where it resides. Given its beachside location, the brief called for a light-filled space that encouraged outdoor living and was robust enough to withstand the salt, sun and wind.
Stepping inside, a central void creates an immediate sense of openness. Allowing for a striking double-height space over the kitchen and a cantilevered concrete walkway with a fluted glass window, the void connects the upper-floor spaces and welcomes natural light into the home. The upper level of the void is anchored with casement windows that house a rumpus room and office space, which can be closed off when desired, nourishing solitude and connection. So, beyond the visual appeal, it is also practical. The void mitigates the impact of overlooking neighbouring buildings by maximising light and controlling privacy and views on the upper level, while from the kitchen, one can keep watch over the pool and the backyard and talk with those studying or relaxing upstairs.
When moving through the light-filled rooms, which have skylights placed opportunistically throughout, it becomes apparent that connecting the home with the outdoors is central to the design. Greenery is integrated at every junction, immersing inhabitants in leafy outlooks and creating privacy. Cooke Landscape Architecture planted native and drought-resistant plants that thrive in sandy soil conditions and require minimal irrigation once established. A sliding screen to the east facade interacts with the street and once again connects to the garden. The glass sliding doors open up to ocean breezes and, when closed, the aluminium angle casts melancholic dappled light into the home.
Robust and neutral, the material palette is simple as well as practical; a reflection of the beachside locale where Blackwattle House resides. The facade is white aggregated concrete, complemented by minimalist prefinished blockwork. Inside, the warmth of spotted gum timber seamlessly extends from the living space through to the kitchen cabinetry, creating a cohesive feel. Meanwhile, natural stone accents add tactility and extend into the bathroom, with stone vanities that sit against ceramic tiles reminiscent of a Mediterranean bathhouse.
Especially important for homes so close to the coast, Hayley Pryor Architect incorporates countless passive design elements into the home. Along with natural ventilation via operable windows and skylights, the home is thoughtfully oriented, with strategic placement of windows and shading devices to enhance natural light and heat during winter yet reduce warmth in summer. Meanwhile, materials harness thermal mass to regulate temperatures and rainwater tanks are used for the home and garden.
A refined yet robust home that exists harmoniously within its beachside location, Blackwattle House connects to the outdoors while also allowing moments of reprieve and retreat. In this way, Hayley Pryror Architect eloquently explores the fusion of site and sustainable habitation.
Architecture by Hayley Pryor Architect. Build by Hipwood Constructions. Landscape design by Cooke Landscape Architecture. Engineering by Westera Engineers. Joinery by Nailed It Kitchens.
