Hedges Residence - Gold Coast, Australia

The reduced palette of materials helps the substantial house to sit quietly among the mix of architectural styles that lines its beachfront street. This combination then continues through to the interiors, where the cohesiveness of concrete walls, floors and ceilings helps to bring focus to the wide coastal views.

“The materials were chosen to be used inside and out, creating a clearly identifiable relaxed aesthetic,” says architect Tim Carrington of B.E. Architecture. “We wanted an end product that would stand up to the climatic variables of living on the beach and something that would look better with the passage of time.”

Privacy is maintained on the street elevation through Vulcan Screening battens, which partially cover the windows while adding warmth to the concrete exterior. Over 750 individual battens were used for the project, each skillfully hand-crafted and placed by builder Gino Pase and his team at Beech Projects. The battens were delivered pre-coated in Protector™ - Straw, with their rough sawn finish sitting comfortably alongside the planked timber formwork.

Tim says the practice solely specifies Abodo’s Vulcan® for external timber detailing due to its ability to stand up to the weather without cracking or warping, as well as the straight and true nature of the timber. For this location so close to the beach and under the heat of the Gold Coast sun, a high level of stability is particularly important.

Passive ventilation and carefully considered lightwells help with energy efficiency, while a pared back aesthetic lends timelessness to the home. From the beach, the varied grids of the formwork alongside the vertical linear nature of the battens enable it to both blend into the coastal landscape and stand out as a meticulously crafted piece of architecture.