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SANCTUARY10hUS pRfiSA RCSSANCTUARY11hUS pRfiSA RCS
Sundrenched
Summer holidays along this stretch of the NSW coast are taken inuncomplicated sustainable style – is there any better way?
Words
G M
PhotograPhy
M Wb
 
SANCTUARY12hUS pRfiSA RCSSANCTUARY13hUS pRfiSA RCS
architectural design can be insPired by
 weird and wonderful things. For Rachael Bourne and ShaneBlue, the configuration of their “square doughnut”contemporary beach house (at Seal Rocks, just under fourhours north of Sydney) was devised specifically for theirchildren, to keep the goblins out. “We came here often whenthe kids were younger,” Rachael explains, “and they used toimagine there were goblins hiding in the bushes. So when itcame to designing our own holiday home we sought toaddress this issue. They wanted a sense of security, toknow they were safe and that nothing could come in.”With no dramatic ocean views to consider and areasonably busy road to shield from, Rachael and Shanedrew up plans for an enclosed outdoor space. Loosely  based on the idea of a Moorish courtyard house, themodest exterior borders an alfresco core that allows foran abundance of light and air by day and frames the starry sky by night.The key to the home’s success, both as a weekender andas a holiday rental, lies in its simplicity and functionality.Not having “a heap of money” to spend on the build inspiredmore creative ideas and practical solutions, from minortouches to major layout. As a way to increase the floor space and livingcapabilities economically, 95 square metres of the 225square metre structure is decking. To utilise the deck areafully and create seamless indoor-outdoor living, rollershutters were installed to most of the inner walls (only theliving room has sliding doors). Acting as a fourth wall, they cost less than half the glass alternative and open up onehundred percent of the area. With all beds armed withmosquito nets, leaving the shutters up to sleep under thestars is positively encouraged. “It’s like camping in luxury,”says Shane.The outdoorsy feel is taken further by the lack of a direct water supply and town sewage system. Instead, all waste istreated on-site and all water is collected and stored in fourhuge tanks for drinking, washing and potentially firefighting purposes. The house also produces electricity viaa 1.5kW grid connected solar system.In keeping with the context of the tiny seaside hamlet,“city” materials (like glass splash-backs and polished stone) were consciously avoided. Instead, locally milled blackbuttdecking and custom orb roofing were used, as well aseconomical, hard-wearing and corrosion resistant materialssuch as cement sheeting.“You wouldn’t mistake it for a city house,” says Shane.“It’s just a simple, low maintenance house that suits thesetting and encourages leisure.”Partners in life and business, Rachael and Shane hadcompleted other projects in Seal Rocks, dating back to thelate 1990s. They finally began building on their own blockeight years after they initially bought it “sight-unseen” froma classified ad. Having worked extensively in the area they  were very familiar with the lay of the land and well-informedabout any potential complications, be it authority regulations, soil conditions or weather issues. As a result,few mistakes were made and the house was built, on budget,for $370,000. Having benefitted from experience,knowledge and plenty of thinking time, they admit thereis little they would change if they did it over again.“If we’d had a bit more money to lavish on it,” musesShane, “we would have thought about putting in a slab floor,to moderate the temperature ranges, and installed a simpleexhaust fan to duct the warm air from the fire and funnelit into the bedroom. We can still do that at a later datethough.”The brief was all about getting back to basics but, asShane insists, “it still has to work well.”“It’s not difficult to do,” he says. “It’s not rocket science,it’s about thinking through the processes. It’s aboutconsidering what you really need, and discarding the rest.”
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oller doors were choseninstead of glazing for manyopenings onto the courtyard.ccording to hane, “We hada tight udget, and while a4.2 metre wide glazed doorsuite is $2500, a roller doorwould only e aout $1100 forthe same size, with the addedadvantage of enaling a 100%openale area to thecourtyard.” he enchtop isLaminex Pillarox, while thecarcass of the kitchencupoards is 0 MF.Zincalume sheet was used asa splashack as it’s “cheap,easy to clean, and has theunrened feel we were after”.t’s also recyclale.
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he wall material iscompressed re cementsheet which is durale, needsno top coat and requires littlemaintenance. he sheets arexed with stainless steelscrews. he dimensions ofthe cement sheets wereinstrumental to the design ofthe house, which was workedout dimensionally from thewidth of a sheet — 900mmplus a 10mm gap — reducingcosts and product wastage.
 
SANCTUARY14hUS pRfiSA RCSSANCTUARY15hUS pRfiSA RCS
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helves are made fromcement sheet with lackuttsupports. he owners optedfor zincalume sheeting ehindthe showers instead of tiling.he sheets just need a wipedown from time to time, andcould last ten to 15 yearsefore needing replacement.he replacement processwould also e signicantlyeasier and quicker than thatfor tiles.
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he living and dining room,painted in Muroond ipple(green) and spresso(rown), is lined y acustom-uilt long day ed.he day ed is topped withseven single futons withrecoverale tops so they cane easily washed, and hasuilt-in storage cupoards.he glass doors are ttedwith sliding, stackingyscreens so they can remainopen for eective crossventilation.
“It’s not rocket science,it’s about thinking throughthe processes. It’s aboutconsidering what you really need, and discarding the rest.”
 
he central courtyard is lit yCFL oodlights. Locally milledlackutt is used for decking,entry, seating and privacyscreening throughout thehouse.
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