Frangipani has been realised through the substantial renovation of  an early 1980’s brick and concrete building consisting of three individual units. Our client owned all three and had been holidaying in one for many years. A growing family and desire to spend more time on the coast led to the decision to convert the units into one large beach house and seperate self contained studio.

The existing structure was something of a  mess of various massed elements and conflicting roof forms. Whilst addressing the requirements of the brief we sought to simplify the buildings form and articulate it through architectural detailing and materiality more in keeping with a beach house vernacular. Whilst the brief and decrepit condition of much of the building called for significant demolition we chose to keep as much of the original structure as we could and to allow the original light blonde brickwork to form the grounding element of the new form and materiality. Ultimately this resulted in retaining the original car parking slab and portions of other slab on ground, one large suspended concrete slab and portions of brickwork. Over this we grafted a new lightweight structure celebrated through exposed hardwood studs with translucent cladding, exposed rafters and VJ ceilings and light weight screen elements to aid filtering eastern sun and provide private nooks to the street facing deck. Sections of new brick walls compliment the original and provide a central spine of thermal mass. This spine also facilitates primary circulation and serves as a breezeway and light well providing the southern half of the building with natural light and air flow.

The central spine also divides the planning program into two distinct zones – public and private. The public living zone is positioned on the original suspended concrete slab to take advantage of the ocean views. Its southern site position is addressed through the breezeway / light well and it being a large open ended room with an eastern beach deck and protected western pool deck. The original pool was retained and refurbished 

The master bedroom takes pole eastern position in an elevated section of the private zone with kids bedrooms  on the ground plane opening to a subtropical northern garden. A self contained guest suite offers use functionality and completes the accomodation on the ground floor.

Air conditioning was requested and provided though has not yet been used. The house is designed to function passively. All power needs are provided by a 9 kw PV array.

Frangipani is a robust and flexible beach house for a growing family and its form and materiality are appropriate for its use and location. Its real poetry however lies in the way its internal spaces function, particularly with respect to the subdued quality of natural light and its ability to pick up and amplify even the siltiest breeze. It offers its owners numerous and varied spaces for prospect and retreat – all which help facilitate, perhaps at times subliminally, a greater understanding and appreciation of context and environment.