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Blairgowrie Beach Club by Bower Architecture & Interiors
A gathering place with hints of childhood nostalgia, Blairgowrie Beach Club by Bower Architecture & Interiors is a deeply personal home with a Scandinavian twist.
Centred on the idea of merging Australian coastal life with the characteristics of Swedish Functionalism, Blairgowrie Beach Club is a natural evolution of the former structure on site. The home deftly reflects the history and culture of the clients, Fio and Katarina, and is the result of a deep understanding between them and the architect.
“The existing house was pretty tiny, but it was a very social home. That’s something that we really wanted to maintain and continue in the new,” says Chema Bould, founder and co-director of Bower Architecture & Interiors. An effortless flow of movement and togetherness was key to the new build. “In terms of layering in references to the old house, it was really all about the front deck and those in-between spaces – linking them so you can retreat and yet be visually connected,” says Bould. The previous structure was also warm, open, welcoming and filled with little Swedish crafts like Katarina’s red horse and other pieces of pottery. “That inspiration did flow through into the new home and it’s something that connects it to this family’s memories.” says Anna Dutton, founder and co-director of Bower Architecture & Interiors.
Blairgowrie Beach Club is a unique blend of Australian and Swedish sensibilities. The family and architects shared an enthusiasm for blending the communal, lively spirit of a local beach club with the holistic notion of connecting with nature. “I think they’re actually quite complementary,” says Dutton. “They absolutely align and are referenced throughout the function of the house and all the selections and decisions along the way.”
“The existing house was pretty tiny, but it was a very social home. That’s something that we really wanted to maintain and continue in the new,” says Chema Bould, founder and co-director of Bower Architecture & Interiors.
When devising the floor plan to enable the best possible flow of movement, the team carefully considered the family’s holiday rituals – returning from the beach, relaxing outside or playing on the tennis court. The rear of the home is robust, designed to withstand a stampede of sandy footprints. In the bathroom, toiletry bags can be strewn upon surfaces, 10 towels can be hooked up and locker-like alcoves are ready to hold precious ocean treasures. “You could imagine people almost treat it a bit like a club, and that was certainly something that the clients once said to us – that they’d love it to be a beach club – and it’s kind of stuck,” says Dutton.
The rumpus room is of a similar construction and placed close to the children’s bunkroom. When the house is full, the occupants expand into those living spaces, yet when it’s just Fio and Katarina, sliding doors close off the front of the house to create a cosy atmosphere for two.
The home’s character lies in its materials and colours. “Externally, we have all sorts of sustainably sourced timbers,” says Dutton. Silvertop ash is used on the cladding and the framework and larger spans are crafted from sustainably sourced blackbutt. Australian pressed bricks add warmth and textural intrigue – “it’s literally made of clay and earth.”
The palette was kept quite restrained, with playful pops of colour exuding joy. Soft, natural tones flow from the exterior to the inside. Creamy colours recalling sand and driftwood anchor the home in its coastal location and bring a sense of tranquillity to every space. However, surprising hues, such as green and red, add intrigue, excitement and a touch of nostalgia. The pale green of the kitchen “really reflects back on some of the traditional Swedish, quite vintage kitchens, and that’s something that Katarina absolutely wanted us to explore,” says Bould. “It felt like home to her, almost like a home-cooked meal.”
The true surprise of Blairgowrie Beach Club is the bold, red entrance. Painted in Berger’s Ruby Ring, the front door and foyer are a reference to Swedish lake houses. The colour evokes a playful, fearless, almost childlike spirit. “It held a strong memory for Katarina, particularly of her own connection to lake houses that she spent holidays in,” says Dutton. “One of her happy snaps from her brother’s lake house is exactly that kind of colour.” The entry has “that sense of a continuance of memories even when it’s not explicitly from the same source”.
Though the team at Bower Architecture & Interiors hadn’t previously worked with a Swedish inspiration, it is obvious that the home is the result of a perfect partnership between clients and architect. “This is a project that’s quite representative of how we do like to work with our clients; it’s very much led by their stories and history,” says Bould.
Though the team at Bower Architecture & Interiors hadn’t previously worked with a Swedish inspiration, it is obvious that the home is the result of a perfect partnership between clients and architect.
The team worked rigorously to harness every opportunity of the site, and surprising little moments are dotted around the residence. The home rests on the idea that simple pleasures make up a happy existence. “Fio said that he was quite surprised when he realised that the hallway lined up with the rails of the tennis court,” says Dutton, and windows and opening are placed to direct sightlines to treetops and lush plantings. The team delighted in creating these small moments of discovery where they wouldn’t necessarily be anticipated. “This is their perfect space, and it couldn’t be anybody else’s. Katarina said it just felt like home immediately.”
Architecture and interior design by Bower Architecture & Interiors. Build by Fido Projects. Landscape design by Kate Le Page Garden Design.
