Architecture featuring simple lines and light-weight construction

The form of this house overlooking Bundeena Bay was influenced by the tradition of simple coastal houses, with simple shapes and light-weight construction. Clarke Pearse Architects (now Pearse Architects & Peter Clark Built Environments Studio) made the design all about simple, relaxed and modern living, with a pared back palette to amplify the dramatic water views. With a striking geometry against a rugged rocky outcrop below, the home was also designed with sustainability in mind, with photovoltaic cells for solar energy, onsite sewer treatment, rainwater tanks and extensive use of recycled timbers in the construction. The polished concrete floors incorporate shells into the exposed aggregate surface, a quirky reflection of the coastal location. [photography by Richard Glover]