An Australian beach house by Curious Practice rethinks conventional suburban layouts with exposed structure, simple materials, open sleeping areas, and a design calibrated for flood risk and family life. The project prioritized honesty of construction, flexible communal spaces, and a modest budget.
The house celebrates exposed, honest materials—plywood joinery, stainless-steel counters, and visible construction—rather than plaster and decorative finishes.
The design responds to a flood-prone site by raising living spaces and using a carport as a flexible outdoor room.
Delivered for just under $400,000, the brief emphasized flexibility for multi-generational use and safe exploration for grandchildren.
# Project overview Curious Practice designed a compact beach house in Newcastle for a client named Vikki who wanted a flexible, family-focused home. Influenced by the client's travels through Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, the design emphasizes connectedness and communal living rather than private, sealed-off rooms.
# Site and program decisions The lot sits in a flood-prone zone. The response was to lift the primary living level above the entry and carport. This raises daily living out of potential flood levels and creates an exterior sheltered area at ground level that functions like an outdoor room when not occupied by a car.
# Spatial layout and family use Bedrooms are intentionally open to the main kitchen and living area to encourage congregation and supervision of children and grandchildren. Two lofted bedrooms open onto public spaces, with blinds for short-term privacy and a sliding bathroom door for more separation. A separate studio unit with its own entry, kitchenette, and bathroom provides the only fully discrete accommodation.
# Materials and finishes The client rejected plasterboard as a "dead" material. Instead the house leaves the frame exposed and uses raw, functional materials: plywood built-ins, stainless-steel countertops, visible plumbing, and custom light shades. The aesthetic is purposeful: maker's marks, joinery details, and construction elements are on show rather than concealed.
# Indoor–outdoor connections Sliding glass doors and multiple balcony connections facilitate easy indoor-outdoor living. The carport opens directly to the gardens and acts as a shaded, weather-protected outdoor room, extending usable living space.
# Budget and delivery The project was completed for just under $400,000. That budget shaped material choices and the decision to prioritize craft and honesty over decorative finishes.
# Visual and practical highlights
# Credits Design: Curious Practice. Architect quoted: Warren Hasnoot. Photography: Katherine Lu (courtesy of Curious Practice).
This North Carolina residence nestles into the contours of the Piedmont hills, achieving privacy on a pie-shaped lot by balancing openness and opacity.
Lasting value comes from a connected framework of streets, parks, trails, schools and daily routines
On a sloping site west of Minneapolis, Imprint Architecture turned an HOA's prescribed gables, a tight budget, and a narrow material palette into a house defined by restraint and charred cedar.
In 2026, the dream of owning a home with a big backyard is out of reach for many Australians. But could smaller homes and high-density living hold the key to the future? We explore why our country is hung up on building some of the largest homes in the world, as two families reveal why they’re ditching the tradition of
A couple built a single-story, horizontal home that seems to grow out of its natural surroundings.
This contemporary brick home by Decancq Vercruysse Architects is designed to recede into the forest, as though it's been there all along. The post Nicolas Schuybroek Recalibrates a Storied New York Townhouse appeared first on est living | exceptional living .
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.