Henley Beach House by Studio Gram

Adelaide’s coastal suburb of Henley Beach boasts unfettered access to the picturesque white sand beaches and turquoise waters of the St Vincent Gulf. In this context, Studio Gram crafts a well-considered beach house as a summertime retreat offering its occupants with an appealing destination for hot days spent in and around the water. As an unpretentious addition to a modest beachside community, the design culminates as a sensitive and respectful interpretation of Australian beachside living.

Separated from the beachfront by a single street, the unique site of Henley Beach House is defined by several characteristics, which informed the underlying design for the home. “The project’s relationship to its coastal context is integral to its design,” explains Dave Bickmore of Studio Gram. The small stretch of land is oriented with a lengthy boundary facing the north, running on an east-west axis and slopes eastwards away from the beachfront with a level change of close to six metres. Navigating the spatial challenges of a long and narrow site, coupled with a significant topographical change, required innovative design solutions to achieve the client brief: “a space harmonising openness, privacy and visual connectivity”.

“The project’s relationship to its coastal context is integral to its design,” explains Dave Bickmore of Studio Gram.

The site sits between two roadways: the main street address to the east and a private access laneway to the west. The home is uncomplicated and consists of two key components; a single-level apartment-like residence on the upper floor, and below, the natural topography is cleverly leveraged to slip the volume of two guest bedrooms beneath the primary structure. This successful exercise in space utilisation can maintain the functionality and aesthetic of the humble beach house. From the beachside elevation, the home appears as a single-level dwelling, and from the main street, the volume of the house matches that of its neighbours.

To blend openness and privacy, Studio Gram devised a courtyard design strategy as a solution to the tight constraints of the narrow site. A double garage with an adjacent shower amenity – to accommodate the return of beachgoers – anchors the building at the top of the site and interfaces directly with the private laneway. From this point onwards, a sequence of masses and voids are arranged as spaces of occupation and relief respectively.

The journey through the home is one of discovery; pockets of greenery open to the sky and enable light to bleed into intimate, enclosed spaces.

The journey through the home is one of discovery; pockets of greenery open to the sky and enable light to bleed into intimate, enclosed spaces. It is this curated composition of courtyards that yields the balance of openness and privacy underpinning the design brief, “guided by core values of natural light and connection with nature,” explains Bickmore. The boundaries of interior and exterior become blurred by the strategic inclusion of the outdoor courtyards, which foster a seamless environment of discrete, comfortable retreat spaces.

The lengthy northern elevation is bisected by a small courtyard within which a modest pool and terrace are accommodated. A generous entry courtyard is placed adjacent to the street and facilitates the formal address of the beach home. Along the equally lengthy southern elevation, several smaller apertures in the building plan create a family of discrete courtyards, which invite natural light and cool sea breezes into the narrow house.

The building exterior is finished with a light palette of white-painted timber and plaster against which the textures of the natural vegetation and coastal soils can take pride of place.

Bickmore speaks with pride in the results of a collaborative process with other design disciplines. Working with landscape specialists yielded a planting strategy for the courtyards, which was fundamental to enriching the overall design. “Their input was instrumental in maximising the potential of the coastal context and ensuring a cohesive relationship between the building and its natural surroundings,” says Bickmore, elaborating on the passive benefits of the natural cooling achieved through cross ventilation of the various courtyards. As a result of harnessing the natural airflow across the site, it was possible to reduce a reliance on mechanical cooling systems and contribute positively to efficient energy use.

Similarly, a partnership with the builder was fundamental for achieving the level of design and finishing required of a high-performing home. The knowledge, dedication and execution of these professionals ensured the translation of the design intent into intricate details, which resulted in a tangible, high-quality design. “The material selection was carefully curated to harmonise with the coastal context,” says Bickmore, describing the materiality and finishing as a dual strategy of durability and aesthetic sympathy for the beachside environment. The building exterior is finished with a light palette of white-painted timber and plaster against which the textures of the natural vegetation and coastal soils can take pride of place. The tonal palette of these materials are folded inwards to create a raw, warm interior composed of natural stone and timber against the cleansing feeling of white walls.

“The project’s success lies in its ability to create a harmonious relationship between the house and its surroundings” reflects Bickmore.

“The project’s success lies in its ability to create a harmonious relationship between the house and its surroundings” reflects Bickmore, explaining the post-occupancy experience of Henley Beach House. He elaborates on the core design principle for the project, which he describes as a tangible connection to the coastal context without compromising the practical needs of the client. “That they wouldn’t change anything is the ultimate testament,” he says. The success of the design to deliver open and connected living spaces integrated with private moments of retreat have exceeded expectations. With Henley Beach House, Studio Gram inserts an intelligent and well-resolved home onto a modest site, which serves only to celebrate the experience of living by the beach.

Architecture and interior design by Studio Gram. Build by Adelaide Built. Landscape design by Husk Projects. Engineering by PT Design. Joinery by Woodform.