The context

Trigg Beach, located along the stunning coastline of Western Australia, is renowned for its dynamic natural environment and powerful coastal winds.

The area is exposed to prevailing south-westerly winds, known locally as the ‘Fremantle Doctor’, which provide cooling relief in summer but can also present challenges for built structures and public spaces.

My homeowners lived in an older home at this address for several years and had become very aware of the difficulty of dealing with the prevailing winds and harsh conditions of living on the coast.

In Western Australia, west-facing ocean views can make managing the intense afternoon sun challenging.

Harnessing this wind resource, rather than merely shielding against it, offers opportunities for both sustainability and user comfort, providing natural cooling cross flow ventilation.

The site offered panoramic views to the south, west, and east, and capturing these views was an integral part of the project requirements.

Designing a home in this challenging environment requires clever strategies to ensure comfortable living, and adaptability of use depending upon the weather.

The challenge lay in capturing the views while still providing protection from the buffeting winds and hot afternoon sun.

The brief

Design a beachside residence for empty nesters on a steep coastal site, optimising westward ocean views while incorporating architectural elements to shield against prevailing winds.

Specify materials resistant to salt exposure.

Employ passive solar design strategies to ensure effective summer shading and winter sunlight.

Prioritise informal entertaining areas.

Offer alternative approaches or locations for outdoor living spaces to facilitate year-round comfort.

Optimise views from as many rooms as possible.

Include a spacious garage with ample storage for camping gear, surfboards, and kayaks.

Indoor / outdoor living and a relaxed coastal vibe were the foundations of the brief.

Design responses

The inclusion of a basement garage elevates the main living level above street height, ensuring residents maintain privacy without compromising opportunities for visual engagement with passing beachgoers.

To address wind protection, the design strategically positions a southern wing of the home to buffer against winter storms, while the dining and kitchen areas are recessed and shielded by a substantial overhang along the western façade.

Outdoor living spaces are located at the front of the home and within a sheltered U-shaped rear courtyard.

Ocean views are still available across the protective shield of the internal spaces through the large windows in the home’s front wing.

Given the corrosive coastal environment, external materials are chosen for durability and low maintenance, ensuring that the home remains robust and visually appealing over time.

The internal palette is made from exposed concrete, face brickwork and timber panelling, along with polished and sealed face brick floors (the floors being laid in recycled bricks from the original home on the site).

A double volume space to the dining room, along with a ‘heat sink’ cloister style passageway captures winter sun.

There are some heroic architectural moments within the home while still retaining some quite honest expressions of building design, which are governed by the coastal conditions.