Bilgola Beach House | Olson Kundig

This 9,400-square-foot family home is situated on the northern coast of Sydney, Australia, in the sand dunes of Bilgola Beach. Palm trees and Norfolk Pines surround the entrance to the home, and it leads to the main and guest wings of the house. As you approach the front door, you will be greeted with a stunning view of the sand dune and beach.

About Bilgola Beach House

The house is built to withstand the extreme weather conditions of its beachfront location in Australia. It is designed to endure strong sunlight, high winds, and flooding. The structure is elevated on concrete piles, which allows sand and water to flow underneath the building.

The design of the house enables the family to enjoy the natural surroundings. The retractable window walls provide shade and allow the outside to blend seamlessly with the inside. This design also promotes passive ventilation. Additionally, the interior courtyard brings in filtered daylight, and a central water feature helps to cool the air.

The house’s board-formed concrete walls match the color of the local sands, connecting the architecture to its surroundings and allowing it to blend in with the natural environment as it ages.

Project Info:

Architects: Olson Kundig
Area: 872 m²
Year: 2018
Photographs: Rory Gardiner
Geotechnical Consulting: JK Geotechnics
Structural Engineering: Partridge Engineering
Civil Engineering: Partridge Engineering
Mechanical Engineering: RJ Air
Landscape Architect: CAB Consulting
Lighting Design: Niteo LightingDesign Principal: Tom Kundig, FAIA, RIBA
Principal: Kevin M. Kudo-King, AIA, LEED® AP
Project Manager: Simon Clews
Architectural Staff: Motomi Kudo-King, Lindsay Kunz, Martina Bendel
Interior Design: Debbie Kennedy, LEED® AP ID+C
Interior Design Staff: Megan Adams, Casey Hill and Maresa Patterson
Client Representative: Auric Projects
Planner: BBF Planners
Gizmo Design: KB Architectural Services with Phil Turner
Gizmo Fabrication: Advanced Design Innovations, TILT Industrial Design
General Contractor: Bellevarde Constructions
Coastal Engineer: Horton Coastal Engineering
City: Bilgola Beach
Country: Australia