architecture + urban design
architecture + urban design
Coastside is a luxury beachside home designed for residential property expert and TV presenter Andrew Winter, and has recently received a commendation from the Australian Institute of Architects.
Coastside’s three stories provide the perfect balance of space for living, working and entertaining while fitting in with the character of the surrounding neighbourhood.
The enticing facade not only fits comfortably in its beachside neighbourhood but also hides a house full of versatile space and surprises, with the narrow block and footprint soon forgotten.
Coastside celebrates position and epitomises our philosophy of ‘light and height’, with high ceilings and prolific glazing (including state-of-the-art Velux skylights) flooding rooms with Queensland sunshine.
The upside-down top-floor living has been designed to capture ocean and city skyline views, with the middle floor devoted to sleeping, studying, or working.
The main living area opens directly onto the generous dining terrace and features a ‘super kitchen’ (including butler’s pantry), with access via stairs or a discreet lift.
The functional ground floor is poolside, ideal for guests and entertaining.
Gentle angles dotted around the home make narrow spaces wide and low ceilings high.
In the clients’ words, ‘Our architect designed the home we wanted’.
Andrew Winter calls his Mermaid Beach home a ‘keeper’ | realestate.com.au | Gold Coast Bulletin, 7 July 2022
Gold Coast Open House | Youtube
This is a very clever solution to maximising the opportunities possible on a narrow 405 sqm site. The beach is close by & raising the living spaces to the top floor allows glimpses as well as reducing the impact of the adjoining properties. The main living space is a great room & the roof terrace an unexpected bonus. External materials are strained & the form is simple as dictated by setbacks but is skilfully proportioned. The planning allows an opportunity for dual occupancy at ground level.
Our first opportunity to work directly with the skills of an Architect came about, as we had purchased a home in need of major renovation and extension. The pleasure we had working together on that project to get everything perfect for the family and for approvals was a real success, however we sold the home. I still have the 3D renders on my laptop. The next home was a renovation for which Amy oversaw the initial redesign stage. Another stunning creation, however a move to another area meant a fresh opportunity and this time a complete new build.
A small beachside block, where trying to obtain those iconic ocean glimpses, building across three floors, creating a roof terrace, keeping garden space yet adhering to Council’s parameters was quite the challenge. Not for our architect Amy – all this just allowed her skills, creativity and genuine passion to come to the fore. Were we easy clients? I wouldn’t say so. Both my wife and I have very strong design opinions, then you add in a few teenagers and my desire to protect future value – none of which seemed to worry Amy.
Our architect treats her career as a vocation, as an art, yet manages to not allow her own preferences to rule the project – if that is something a client simply doesn’t like or want, then that element is changed, evolved or discarded. I think we had all three of those elements occur during our design journey.
Would our family recommend Amy? Of course we would. Would we recommend considering using an Architect, for your next project? Again, of course. Any additional costs, in my experience, are well and truly covered by the end result and added value. After all, it is then – in real estate jargon – ‘architect designed’.