Shell House by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects

Situated on the rocky headland of Sydney’s Shelly Beach, this family home designed by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects reflects the beauty and serenity of its surroundings.

The awe-inspiring beauty of Shelly Beach, with its crystal clear waters, rugged rock formations and thriving marine life, informed every aspect of Shell House’s design – from its modest architectural form to its natural palette. Replacing a heavy, red brick bungalow that dominated the site, the new architecture is reparative, driven by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects’ desire for the home to feel “harmonious with the landscape, and the most powerful and uplifting space to be in,” says director Madeleine Blanchfield.

Appearing to float on the headland, this volume maintains an airy quality, its crisp white render interspersed with broad expanses of glazing.

Set across three levels and high on the headland, the house embraces a discreet architectural presence. “Despite the home’s elevated outlook, we were conscious of downplaying its architectural expression so it wouldn’t appear too commanding,” says Madeleine. The rocky terrain, climbing from the bay to the elevated site, inspired a sandstone-clad podium that melds into the landscape, contrasted by the sleek, elongated form of the upper level – the home’s “built bulk”, as Madeleine describes it. Appearing to float on the headland, this volume maintains an airy quality, its crisp white render interspersed with broad expanses of glazing.

Passing through a sunken front garden, the home’s glass door entrance offers a playful hint of the bay beyond. Upon entry, this view opens as a framed vista set between a curved, sandstone-clad wall and a timber-lined volume concealing the home’s powder room and study. The beauty of the bay draws movement through the house, which dramatically widens to an open-plan kitchen and lounge area set against expansive views across the coastline, nature reserve and horizon. At this glass interface, the site’s steep fall reveals the character of the shoreline below, peppered with swimmers, sunbathers and snorkellers – “a picture frame of endless activity,” muses Madeleine.

Internally, the generously scaled living space offers a series of crafted ‘moments’ set within the open space.

Such tailored views are the result of Madeleine Blanchfield Architects’ meticulous three-dimensional modelling of the site’s descent – “a factual way to work through the desired sightlines instead of wondering what the outcome would be,” explains Madeleine – which rationalised the building’s proportions, positioning and layout. The home’s principal window opening required rigorous structural engineering to achieve a continuous 12-metre glazed span capable of withstanding coastal winds, while an understanding of the steep topography informed its proximity to the home’s northern boundary, fringed by a narrow deck and intimate, pebble-shaped lookout. “A broader terrace would have otherwise obstructed this special connection, and it was really important that we could capture beautiful views from inside the house to enjoy in any season,” says Madeleine.

Internally, the generously scaled living space offers a series of crafted ‘moments’ set within the open space. Earthy, humble materials and consistent bronze detailing allow the beauty of the bay to lead without disruption, establishing a simple-pattern language that binds together the home’s tiered sequence of spaces. Sandstone-clad walls ground the dining and lounge area, while pale timber screens and sheer drapery soften interactions with light and landscape. A bespoke curved sofa addresses a rendered fireplace scaling the living area’s western edge. Its smooth lines sit in poetic contrast to the stone walls, complemented by a curated array of furniture, lighting and decor.

A cosy dining nook nestles into a curved alcove in the north-east corner, offering wide-ranging views across the water.

To the east, a sophisticated kitchen is anchored by a robust island bench, seemingly hewn from a single block of white marble. Timber screens fuse with a run of ribbed, timber-panelled cabinetry, thoughtfully concealing fridges, storage spaces and a hidden bar. A cosy dining nook nestles into a curved alcove in the north-east corner, offering wide-ranging views across the water. This captivating outlook is reflected by a full-height mirrored door to the butler’s pantry, which lends an infinite quality to the uninterrupted bay views.

The vertical expression of the kitchen’s back bench conceals a discreet, sculpted staircase that connects to the home’s private upper level. Here, a main bedroom suite offers a calm and elevated experience of the coastal surrounds, opening onto a landscape-lined balcony. A glazed portal, set into the balcony floor, presents a tailored glimpse from the bed to the sand and water below – a playful addition and daily source of intrigue for the homeowners. Three other bedrooms are carefully buffered by inset courtyards and ancillary spaces, lending visual and acoustic separation between family members. Committed to sharing landscape outlooks among all, the southern rooms each open to a courtyard, instilling the upper level with a feeling of serenity, privacy and repose.

Cooling blue hues saturate the walls, furniture and decor, coalescing with the tones of the sea beyond.

These quiet zones are contrasted by the spirit of the basement level’s rumpus room, which encourages play, entertaining and togetherness. Cooling blue hues saturate the walls, furniture and decor, coalescing with the tones of the sea beyond. “At night, the space feels like a secluded party room buried under the home’s stonework,” says Madeleine. An external passage grants access to a striking sculpted pool, modestly scaled to protect the views and give a sense of “being within the landscape, not on it”.

The curvature of the deck’s soffit “leads the eye into the sky and landscape,” says Madeleine, while sandstone steps spiral down to the beach, infilled by a sprawling coastal garden designed in collaboration with Dangar Barin Smith. Incorporating native species suited to the headland’s topography, the garden is “intended to become overgrown and read as a natural continuation of its coastal setting”.

Through its refined language, stepped layout and honest use of materials, Shell House harmonises with its remarkable natural setting to create an unwavering sense of belonging.

Through its refined language, stepped layout and honest use of materials, Shell House harmonises with its remarkable natural setting to create an unwavering sense of belonging. The project’s minimalist expression, grounded on the headland, belies the complexity of its levelling and structural design, marking the project as one of Madeleine Blanchfield Architects’ most technically challenging works to date. Though simplicity is hard won on such a challenging site, Shell House is executed with care and conviction, delivering a calm, joyful and spirited home, driven by a progressive unveiling of the breathtaking bay.

Architecture and interior design by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects. Build by Milestone Custom Builders. Landscape by Dangar Barin Smith. Engineering by Partridge. Joinery by Scarelli Joinery, Eveneer Raw Timber veneer by Elton Group. Windows by Vitrocsa.