London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 04, 2025

Ocean Breezes Blow Right Through This Modern Australian Beach Shack

Ocean Breezes Blow Right Through This Modern Australian Beach Shack

This airy home makes the most of its beachside location with sustainable design, careful siting, and an expansive glazed facade.

The Hart House by Casey Brown Architecture is located just about 18 miles north of Sydney, Australia-but it feels worlds away. Perched on a hill overlooking Great Mackerel Beach, the home opens up to the wide expanse of ocean beyond.



The Hart House is perched between a steep cliff and the grand expanse of ocean below.

Casey Brown Architecture conceived of the residence as an updated and modern version of the typical one-room Australian beach shack. It's designed as a simple box closed to all sides but one, which opens to the beach below. The building is wrapped in a protective shell made out of corrugated metal, which shelters it from the harsh salty air, cold winters, southerly winds, and brushfire-prone landscape.



The beach shack's corrugated metal shell is detailed with curved edges. The building faces northeast to take advantage of ample sunlight and ocean views.



The view from the home towards the water, sky, and surrounding cliffs.

Steep cliffs with abundant foliage lie above the home. Below, a series of stone terraces and steps lead down to the beach. The main level of the home consists of a single double-height space with dining, kitchen, and living areas, as well as a utility core with a bathroom and pantry. A lofted mezzanine sits above the utility core.



The home's punched windows are shaded by Cor-Ten steel.

The wall facing the water has generous floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open up completely to the outside deck. Carefully placed punched windows provide passive cross ventilation to the other three sides of the home.



The interior features durable materials (like birch plywood and concrete) that can withstand the harsh oceanside climate.

Large panes of glass at the clerestory level allow sunlight to brighten the room. Just off the large, double-height space lies a small studio that also looks directly out to the water. The basement level holds the bedroom with an en suite bathroom and direct access to a terrace constructed from sandstone sourced on-site.



The angle of the roof is oriented to take full advantage of sun and views. The ceiling is a simple white surface that reflects light.

One of the clients is a ceramicist, so Casey Brown Architecture selected the project's materials based on quality, tactility, and texture. The interior spaces are clad in birch plywood, with timber flooring and concrete benches.



The main level opens up to provide complete access to the deck.

The exterior and interior flooring, decking, and window and door frames are made from spotted gum-a type of eucalyptus tree commonly found in Australia that is known for its sustainability and resistance to fire.



The kitchen, dining, and living area features simple furnishings and a neutral palette-the views are the focal point in the design.

The corrugated metal shell strikes contrast with the weathered steel door and window frames, tying in to the red hues of the spotted gum. The roof holds several solar panels and rainwater harvesting equipment, and waste is processed on-site, which gives the home a light carbon footprint.



The bedroom takes advantage of ocean views with glazed doors and louvered windows.



The interior finishes in the bedroom and adjacent bathroom are similar to those on the main floor: birch plywood, concrete, and neutral tones.



The basement features a bedroom and en suite bathroom that open directly onto a sandstone terrace.



The main floor is accessed through an entry deck from a series of terraces and staircases leading up from the water.



The one-bedroom home sits perched on the cliff, oriented towards the water.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Queen Camilla’s Teenage Courage: Fended Off Attempted Assault on London Train, New Biography Reveals
Scottish Brothers Set Record in Historic Pacific Row
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
×