The “Subtle” Art of Beach House Architecture

By its very nature, good architecture requires sensitivity, but some locations demand more of it than others. That is certainly true of beach house architecture because beaches are enshrined in the Australian consciousness. They are part of our national heritage, and although, contrary to what people in some faraway countries may think, we don’t all live on the edge of Bondi Beach or enjoy the life-affirming cases of the Fremantle Doctor, for better or worse we are regarded as seasiders at heart.

Beach house architecture brings with it a sense of responsibility. That is certainly how we see it at BY Projects Architecture. A good beach house must look the part, for a start. When the sea and the sand are such glorious natural phenomena, buildings should not detract from the beauty. While there is no single style that has to be adhered to, it is up to the architects to come up with something that will fit comfortably into the landscape. In matters of architecture beach homes are special. Time marches on and fashions change but the beach remains the same. Progress in the world of construction is not necessarily pleasing to the eye, but when it has other benefits, we must find ways of incorporating positive new developments into our designs.

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Our Holistic Approaces to Beach House Architecture

Sustainability architecture is high on our list of priorities when thinking about beach house architecture. That means taking into account things like solar power, but before we even get that far, there is the question of positioning, slope, prevailing winds and trees which can help with passive heating, cooling, ventilation and so on. It really is about thinking, about noticing things and assessing how these natural conditions can be put to good use by the way we build a house. In the past, many people wouldn’t have thought past standard considerations such as ‘north facing is good’, but in these increasingly enlightened times, we can do better than that. 

It is a step further along the thoughtful road that already includes using recycled materials, renewable and naturally occurring local materials which reduce the carbon footprint of a project. 

Many of what may seem like brilliant ideas are absolutely obvious when you think about them, and technology has helped immensely with things like glass, for instance. What used to be a problematic material with very poor thermal performance, double glazing can help control the temperature in a building much more efficiently. 

Reducing water consumption is another factor that is not rocket science but has been ignored in the past. Collect as much as you can from what arrives naturally and use low-flow taps and shower heads; there are all manner of things that can be done. The architecture of beach homes is more than just shapes. In this day and age, it’s like holistic medicine, treating the whole body and thinking ahead rather than just dealing with bad symptoms when they occur. 

Think positive and be proactive: that is the way forward. 

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Our process


At BY Projects Architecture, our approach emphasises Superior Design and Teamwork with our clients at every step of the process. From selecting the perfect site and conducting comprehensive feasibility studies to expert Urban Design and Master Planning, we seamlessly blend all phases of design, interior decoration, and thorough documentation for both private and public sector projects. Our goal is to perfectly capture our client's vision through comprehensive project management services, making us the ideal partner for community and development projects.

Testimonials

Jordan Hughes
23:36 01 May 25
Barbara Oh
08:27 11 Jul 24
I highly recommmend the team at BY Architecture.

Barbara, Howard and the team designed a wonderful extension to my late 1960s Melbourne home, ran the tender process to find me a builder, and superintended the build contract.

The design process that Barbara took me through was comprehensive, well-considered and highly collaborative, and the resulting extension and renovation was incredibly well-tailored to my specific needs and desires.

The tender process was similarly well-run, and we ended up choosing a builder that Barbara had worked with many times before and recommended. The recommendation was a great one and the entire build ran very smoothly, with the many quirks arising in a typical renovation being dealt with intelligently and with no fuss.

During the entire time I worked with them, Barbara and her team went over-and-above to keep me happy. As a result of their attention to detail and their focus on customer service, they ensured that what can often be a stressful time was actually a pleasure. I cannot thank them enough and would work with them again in a heartbeat.
thir carc
12:44 17 Jun 24
Barbara is very friendly and easy to work with. Thank you for the great advices.
Response from the owner 23:14 17 Jun 24
thank you Arik. Happy to be helpful
Emily Campbell
02:59 31 May 24
Barbara and the BY Projects team were fantastic to work with for our knockdown-rebuild. We had no idea what we were doing or getting ourselves in for, and through every stage of the process Barbara explained everything and was supportive and transparent.
She drew plans for a beautiful house for us which fulfilled everything we wanted while adding such flair and style that we never could have imagined ourselves.
I was so glad to have her and her team on my side throughout the build process, as we would have struggled to advocate for ourselves (or even notice) mistakes or defects by the builder.
Overall, we just couldn’t be happier with the final result.
Response from the owner 06:53 31 May 24
Thank you for your enthusiasm Emily. And thank you for trusting us with your dream Home. It's been a pleasure working with you and your family, and we trust you will enjoy your home for the years to come.
Jennifer Hauptman
03:43 04 Feb 24
Koray Yazgan
03:49 13 Mar 21
We recently had the pleasure of carrying out a renovation for Barbara and BY Projects Architecture.
The project ran very smoothly from receiving the plans, to handover day.
Barbara pays very close attention to detail and takes great pride in her work.
We look forward to working with BY again on future projects.
Response from the owner 22:11 30 Mar 21
Thank you Koray. It was a pleasure working with AMCON Homes, we look forward to working with you again in the future.
Janardhan S
05:35 15 Feb 21
Barbara provided excellent professional advice regarding Town planning and approval process by the Council. She went out of her way to find the right information and help me. Will surely use their services again when necessary.
I would highly recommend them.
Response from the owner 01:37 16 Feb 21
Thank you Jarardhan. We do hope you find a more suitable site soon to build your dream homeBarbara
Sophie Banfield
13:34 29 Apr 20
We were in a very difficult position after a VCAT rejection. Barbara came into our project and reimagined what was possible with our property. Going from a house with three shops with significantly reduced value to a development with two town houses, a cafe and all able to be subdivided into three separate properties. Barbara was positive, enthusiastic, charming at planning meeting and all in all kept us positive and hopeful. Barbara went through the whole process with us and I would say went above and beyond what would generally be expected. She worked well with our development team, working out strategies for planning challenges. We are very thankful for her time and energy.
Mark Shannon
23:46 24 Aug 19
We engaged Barbara and her team many times over many years for our Building Development Projects, including Multi Residential, Child Care and Mixed Use. Most recently for a couple of houses in Port Melbourne with complex Heritage Overlay requirements.

Barbara worked with us closely to ensure all design requirements were achieved to exceed market expectations. All permit requirements were managed in a professional and timely manner, and all processes were met on time and on budget.

The finished buildings were outstanding and the realized sales well above market expectations.

We highly recommend BY Projects Architecture for their Design sense and construction experience.
Virginia Jackson
05:25 24 May 19
I have worked with Barbara and the team at BY Projects on a number of projects now. Its hard to think how you could get better value for money. They are great architects - that goes without saying. But its the extra mile they go to on your behalf in order to secure the very best for you that makes all the difference. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for your next project.
Response from the owner 06:02 24 May 19
Thank you Virginia for your kind words. It is always a pleasure working with you.

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