Yugambeh people
Queensland
Gold Coast and Northern Rivers
Palm Beach House is the careful transformation of a modest 1954 brick bungalow. Rather than demolish, the project retains and adapts the original dwelling, reducing waste while preserving a fragment of the area’s increasingly rare historical fabric. In a region with limited heritage protection and a culture of replacement, the project demonstrates the value of reuse and continuity.
The existing house now accommodates the private areas, elevated to create a sense of retreat. A new rear extension contains the living spaces, positioned to maximise northern light and establish a strong connection to the garden. Pushed to the southern boundary, the addition opens fully to the outdoors and increases usable green space.
Robust, tactile materials support family life, while landscape plays an integral role, providing privacy, shade and productive planting. A small street-facing courtyard encourages neighbourly interaction, reinforcing the house as an open and engaged part of its setting.
The kitchen is our anchor point. It feels naturally connected to the garden, dining and living areas, which makes chaotic mornings and playful after-school afternoons flow more easily. The kids can be outside or in the living room while we’re in the kitchen or office, and we still feel physically connected.
The house changes throughout the day: morning sun draws us into the living areas, while high summer sun provides shade and keeps things cool.
The landscaping and framing of the extension provide privacy and tranquility a genuine escape from what is a busy Palm Beach.
James Knight, Design Architect
Dan Wilson, Project Architect
Ingineered, Structural Engineer
TOCO Landscape Design, Landscape Consultant
Coast Town Planning, Town Planner
TSC Group, Building Surveyor