Pearl Beach House

2021 National Architecture Awards shortlist

Pearl Beach House | Polly Harbison Design | Photographer: Brett Boardman


2021 National Architecture Awards: RESIDENTIAL - New Architecture

Pearl Beach House | Polly harbison Design

Traditional Land Owners: The Guringai People

Pearl Beach house is the realisation of the clients dream, to build a bespoke, concrete sculpture in the bush, on a budget that demanded creative solutions.

The site is nestled amongst Burrawang scrubby woodland, rainforest species and ancient grass trees, on the edge of Pearl Beach village.

Inspired by the patch of blue sky amongst the dense tree canopy, the heavy masonry form wraps around this clearing, elevating living areas to capture the sun.

The carefully considered entry sequence defines the spatial arrangement of the building. This journey blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces, to create connection to both bush and sky.

Off form concrete is used judiciously, mixed with low cost materials within a restrained palette. The predominance of grey textures enhances the homogenous sculptural quality of the building, considered bursts colour in the ceramics and heavily grained timber, ground the building in its bush surrounds.

Pearl Beach House | Polly Harbison Design | Photographer: Brett Boardman

Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?

“The everyday is elevated as we walk through rooms and experience variations in light, mood and texture. Views of the bush have been selected and framed, which somehow feels more immersive. It’s impossible not to smile wide when bathing outdoors, in the elements. We feel part of what’s around us.

The experience of living in the space is transformational.

The house works as a unified whole, spatially because of how easy it is to open up to the outdoors and visually because of the consistent palette of materials. It induces calm, it allows us to be still and reflective.”

Practice team:

Polly Harbison, Design Architect

Ron Woods, Project

Bridget Webb, Graduate of Architecture

Jincheng Jiang, Graduate of Architecture

Gracie Grew, Graduate of Architecture

Giorgi Jardine, Graduate of Architecture

TRIAS, Architect

Construction team:

Tihanyi Consultants, Structural Engineer

Arent and Pyke, Interior Design Collaborators

Michael Cooke Garden Design, Landscape Consultant

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