Awabakal Country
NSW Regional
Regional
Surf Check is anchored into a sublime coastal valley reaching out towards the beaches South of Newcastle. Conceptually, this house is an attempt to create a safe inner world which engages selectively and adaptively with the extraordinary scale and depth of the surrounding locality.
The success of this project rests in an apparent simplicity and quietness, which belies the discipline and collaboration required to achieve it. The landscape beyond provides the drama for which the house is the platform for participation. Yet, here lies the challenge : to balance the obvious outlook with a sense of refuge and safety.
The sustainable outcomes are holistic and focus on how the house will integrate with the surrounding climate, manage the internal environment, and foster a deep appreciation for the land in its inhabitants
We have lived in this area for most of our lives. Our children were born and raised in this suburb. Bec coordinates the Newcastle Fringe Festival and has connections to many local creatives. Mark is heavily involved in the local surfing community and often used this site as a place to check the waves when it was a vacant block.
We love the way that the house serves both of our needs. It is a lookout where we can watch the weather, the surf and the passing whales, while at the same time having a safe private nurturing inner life.