Bundjalung Country
Queensland
Gold Coast and Northern Rivers
Fingal House involved the considerate repurposing of an existing fibro beach house to meet the needs of a growing young family and better respond to its climate and site. The original house was retained for bedrooms, reclad, lifted to avoid flood waters and shifted towards the eastern boundary. A new spine was added to the west, including a garage, home office and living spaces. This new addition sensitively relates to the original house through scale, materials and form. The original house is raised and presented on a warm brick screen wall that neatly contains the brick and landscape entry sequence. These entry stairs provide a natural perch to watch kids on the lawn, a place to engage with neighbours or take in the breezes and views to the local waterhole across the road. This is a modest gesture that strongly sets an agenda of neighbourhood engagement.
Fingal House is a beloved beach shack, set respectfully away from the street and has been reorientated to capitalise on its setting and to be resilient against floods, storm surges and rising sea level. A confident arrangement of levels, spaces, utilities, permeability, and materials has created a livable family home and preserved the fishing village neighbourhood character. A new wing has been added, sensibly detached to allow the original to “breathe”, which, in turn, accommodates future expansion if family needs dictate.
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
