Dovecote by Atelier Andy Carson

Nestled into the headlands of Gerringong, Dovecote embraces its surroundings through purposely chosen outlooks of the landscape and horizon.

“It’s not hard to be inspired by the site itself,” says Andy Carson of Atelier Andy Carson. “It’s so beautiful and incredible. It’s amazing in itself.” After being tasked with creating a home that would sit perfectly on the landscape without taking away from it, Carson first took a step back to understand the site. “It is quite windy at times and capturing the views was easy – they’re all right there. But how do you create a comfortable place to inhabit as well as shield it from the weather?”

“It’s not hard to be inspired by the site itself,” says Andy Carson of Atelier Andy Carson. “It’s so beautiful and incredible. It’s amazing in itself.”

Aside from its unparalleled coastal outlook, Dovecote sits upon 60 hectares of farmland, something Carson wanted to address. The idea for Dovecote was formed from Carson’s response to creating a retreat that offered both protection for the occupants and maximised views from all angles. The modern design of the home was left to Carson to explore freely. “It came naturally, to have these sort of angular shapes and forms of the home,” he says. “The angles just felt dramatic and interesting, and in terms of the dark cladding on the exterior, that was all trying to create quite a sleek and interesting home with a certain bit of mystique.”

With such a dramatic backdrop mere metres away, Carson uses moments within Dovecote’s interior to allow the residents to embrace and immerse themselves within the landscape. Each space has been devised to offer different perspectives, creating awe-inspiring moments at every turn. “It is about those very prescribed views in different directions, and it’s almost like a veil or a filter on the world, so you’re taking little vignettes or snapshots of particular areas to celebrate those sights,” says Carson. As for the floor plan, the home pitches and shifts towards the views, while a courtyard is positioned in the centre. “I love courtyard housing, but I knew Dovecote had to be a courtyard house and have that protected inner sanctuary in the middle.” Devised as three separate pavilions that cluster around the inviting external relaxation zone and create an enclosure, Dovecote protects the pool and outdoor living areas from strong winds.

“It came naturally, to have these sort of angular shapes and forms of the home,” he says.

Due to Dovecote’s proximity to the coastline, there was a certain level of consideration placed upon material selection. “We were always acutely aware that it’s in such a corrosive, rugged location where it’s exposed,” says Carson. “Obviously, for the building to age gracefully and patina and look great over time, the durability of materials was high.” For the exterior, custom solid brass was employed around the pool as well as the external stairs, while the cladding over the home was imported from Germany due to its high durability and 40-plus-year warranty.

Embracing the idea of passive solar design, the home has been planned so the sun can easily fill the interior with natural light coming in from the north. “It’s like you’re at a football game, sitting on a hill in winter and you’ve got the sun on your back, but the view is in front of you,” explains Carson. “The occupants don’t have the glare of the sun but are still receiving the warmth and the benefit from it.” As such, the living room has been placed on the eastern side to look over the cliffs and to the ocean, while the remaining southern views are reserved for other rooms. Additionally, Dovecote features a storm-viewing room, which is positioned at the end of one pavilion to offer advantageous views of the dramatic rolling rainfall that comes in from the south.

With such a dramatic backdrop mere metres away, Carson uses moments within Dovecote’s interior to allow the residents to embrace and immerse themselves within the landscape.

Deeply immersed in the landscape, Dovecote provides its occupants with an immediate connection to the coast, whether inside or outside. “It is like a visceral connection to place because it’s all about the senses and the raw, rugged beauty of the landscape,” says Carson. Dovecote is situated a mere short walk away from nearby Gerringong, yet it is far enough away that the occupants are given a sense of seclusion. “You can be cocooned in this little sanctuary and still feel like you’re part of the world, or you can get out there and feel among it.”

Architecture by Atelier Andy Carson. Build by Bellevarde Constructions. Landscape design by Peter Glass & Associates. Appliances by Gaggenau. Windows by Vitrocsa.