A new home on a difficult site in a beautiful location, perched on the edge of a south Coogee cliff. With the ocean stretching to the horizon, the relentless blue relieved only by the waves crashing on Wedding Cake Island. It is hard to imagine a more spectacular location.

The inherent problem with beach houses facing east is coping with largely inhospitable conditions: gusty winds and the lack of sunshine during the day, while maintaining access to the 180o views. The courtyard treatment, is partly adopted, by the creation of a three sided terrace which creates north facing walls with views to the Wedding Cake in the north east.

The base of the house has been sculpted as an extension of the cliff face, firmly grounding the house. Though a large structure it is given a scale comparable to the neighbours by continuing the base line and repeating the building mass. In this context the house sits comfortably, and unifies the diversity of the neighbouring homes.

The house itself is a series of delicately framed shelters, filled in with a pattern of timber louvres, glass and weatherboards. The essence of lazy seaside holidays, lying on the deck. This traditional form contains the essence of coastal houses, indoors and outdoors connected by terraces and decks for easy living, protected private access to sun and sea.

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