Local history has it that the original house was one of the first built on the peninsula. It was a creation of the early twenties, built by an old Scottish sailor. Unyielding to the lack of vehicular access, he brought the building materials onto the site via the sea, dragging them up from a safe beach on the other side of the headland. Undoubtedly the strong maritime character of the house came from this auspicious beginning.

Sited between the cliff face and the sea, the house enjoys a sense of protection by the landform, as well as magnificent views of the ocean. The humble simplicity of form and expression of home attracted its new owners, a character they wished to preserve. As a young family, it was important to them to form a sunlit yard, where they could entertain, the baby could play and Richard could cultivate his orchids while enjoying the sea view without being buffeted by the sea wind.

Sheltered by the building mass, the back of the house provides the opportunity to create this space. Two new arms at each end of the house extend to embrace a courtyard, and a series of terraces are carved back into the cliff. This new private courtyard cradled within the structure of the house and site captures the sun, wards off the wind, while allowing the promise of the ocean beyond.

The new arms, contain a number of functions, the northern arm is an additional bedroom, complete with a loft sleeping area, while the southern arm is formed by a series of rooms stepping up the hill. These include a covered section of the courtyard, a guestroom, and a garage.

Sun penetration is also maximized within the house, firstly by removing the existing garage on the northern side, and rearranging the interior spaces so that the service rooms are in areas which receive less sun, while the living areas are in spaces which receive the most sun.

Subtle gestures have marked the new era, the sandstone paving is the same stone recut from the original retaining walls on the site, different coloured timber mark the new parts of the floor, even some of the original light fittings were re-used.

Through intense collaboration with Richard and Gillian, the additions have added another layer of character to a building already filled with history. Importantly, the original nautical character of the house was maintained and reinforced by the shift in focus from spaces relating only to the view, to form those relating to the land, allowing for a deeper experience of living by the sea.

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