Caterina and Vittorio wanted a place where they could escape from their busy lives and enjoy spending time with their family in a relaxed environment.

When they bought the house, it was not much more than a run down shack. But there was no denying that it was in an amazing location, just metres from the sand and surf of Wamberal beach. Rather than wanting to knock down the existing house and build a modern beachside mansion, Caterina and Vittorio wanted to renovate the house but maintain, and even enhance, its weathered rustic character. Muted colours, a country style kitchen, an open fireplace…all these would provide a sense of quiet and comfort, and create a real refuge from the chaos of the city.

As a restaurateur, Caterina spends a lot of time cooking, and wanted the kitchen to be a major focus of the house. PWA created a kitchen and living space where the extended family could come together and enjoy each other’s company, soaking up the delicious aromas being created in the kitchen, naturally equipped with a commercial grade cook-top and oven.

The beach house’s garden has been extensively landscaped with plants native to the area, to ensure they are able to survive in the harsh coastal environment. Several rainwater tanks have also been installed to irrigate the garden. Modern comforts such air conditioning have been eschewed in favour of natural ventilation, to make this house as environmentally friendly as possible. To compensate for the east/west orientation of the habitable spaces, a deep covered verandah on both aspects blurs the transition from interior spaces to the outdoors, providing shelter not only from the low morning and afternoon sun, but also the strong ocean breezes.