Location: Lennox Head, New South Wales
Country: Australia
Awards: 2009 BDA NSW Design Awards in the category of Houses over 400 square metres
When assigned the task of designing a new home for a 'soon to be retired' couple on a large, vacant coastal lot, John Bath and Associates hit the mark by ensuring that it could accommodate a growing number of family guests and visitors all year round.
Situated at the sunny, seaside village of Lennox Heads in New South Wales, the private family home received a commendation in the 2009 BDA NSW Design Awards in the category of Houses over 400m2. The accolade is not surprising considering the home's stunning aesthetics and atmosphere including a featured in-ground pool which is the focal point of the lower level living areas.
The house takes full advantage of the long East West position with the house featuring a North orientation as it is set along the Southern boundary. Bath also worked to meet the clients' request that the home incorporate a feeling of easy living spaces in which to enjoy home cooking, long lunches and maximise the couple's enjoyment of the sub-tropical coastal climate of Lennox Heads.
The interior of the house boasts a centralised kitchen adjacent to the lower level living areas, allowing guests to enjoy pool views and the sunny courtyard area. The kitchen also acts as the hub of activity for both the indoor and outdoor dining spaces with the layout promoting relaxed and restful living.
Even when accommodating guests, Bath has ensured there is enough space to escape from the hustle and bustle of life. The five bedroom home includes a study and games room to provide ongoing entertainment and a special guests' space on the upper level which also includes additional amenities.
In addition to generous and comfortable space, the home indulges in a resort style design by using timber accents through the use of decking and polished floor boards, as well as warm hues that continue throughout the interior and extend into the exterior.
The roofing, made from COLORBOND® steel in the colour Paperbark®, ensures the home blends into the coastal streetscape. Roofing made from COLORBOND® steel was chosen as it enabled flexibility of design as well as provided a strong, lightweight solution. The choice of 20 standard colours, now incorporating Thermatech® solar reflectance technology, also ensured a complimentary colour could be chosen for the design.
The Balinese inspired outdoor area features an award winning in-ground pool that can be used all year round while the mini courtyard enables steady breezes to be distributed throughout the home. The outdoor areas also include a water saving landscaped garden which houses two large water tanks to collect rainwater in order to save water and conserve energy. As such, the Lennox Heads home is not just a design marvel based purely on aesthetics but also one that has received the highest BASIX rating in all three categories of water, energy and thermal comfort.
