Burrill Lake House by Jost Architects

The project started with an existing beach shack in Burrill Lake, a small coastal town south of Ulladulla on the South Coast of New South Wales. The client, an old friend, who I have spent many years visiting for the annual surfing and fishing trip there. It’s located in a beautiful Australian coastal bush setting with Eucalypt growing right to the edge of the lake at the end of the street. Also a short distance from Dolphin Point and the expanse of the Tasman Sea.

The shack was purchased by him in 2007. He renovated it soon after which took 18 months sleeping in a tent in his garage for a slightly longer period than preferred!

Over the last few years, getting married and adding two boys to the group triggered the sudden requirement to enlarge the existing minimal space of the basic fibro. Rather than go up as first discussed, they were convinced to utilize the area to the north of the existing house saving money and time by “building on the ground”.

The design embodies the feel of the classic fibro beach shacks commonly found in the area, simple but a bit abstract utilizing familiar materials. The existing building is opened up to the lush natural vegetation in the streets to the front of the property. The existing bedrooms were removed from within the existing envelope, while the bathroom and kitchen locations were kept but rearranged. The three new bedrooms, study, and ensuite were situated in the new “wing” which was bolted onto the north side of the existing building with a new opening into the area. The addition cups the old house with roof eaves and extended wall nibs at each end overlapping with the old dwelling. Clad in corrugated metal sheet, vertical painted boards, and a new timber batten fascia to the retained eaves linking the two forms.

The interior finishes were carefully selected by the clients that suited the coastal location and worked in with not only with the external finishes but their furniture, artwork, and lifestyle.

The shed at the back was retained but unlike the rest of the house was kept as an homage to the old shacks of the South Coast full off fishing and surfing gear, wetsuits, bikes, and the ping pong table that still gets a workout every week. The only thing packed away in the tent.

A simple solution resulting in a hugely positive outcome!

This is the lovely back patio of the house just outside the living room. It has an elevated wooden deck flooring with a wooden set of steps that lead to the backyard landscape. This area is adorned with potted plants on the side.

A few steps beyond the elevated patio is a koi pond bordered with wooden ledges that separate the pond from the grass lawn.

The elevated wood deck patio is fitted with an outdoor sofa and a matching armchair adorned with potted plants to match the lush landscape beyond the patio with tall tropical trees and shrubs.

Just inside the large sliding glass doors of the patio is a black freestanding fireplace that stands out against the white walls and ceiling at the corner of the living room.

On the side of the fireplace is a built-in concrete structure that serves as an entertainment cabinet underneath the wall-mounted TV with built-in drawers.

Across from the TV is this lovely gray sofa and a matching armchair that has a wooden frame to pair well with the hardwood flooring. There is also a potted plant beside the built-in entertainment cabinet.

This is a closer look at the comfortable sofa and armchair of the living room. They are paired with a lovely glass-top coffee table that stands out on the patterned beige area rug.

A closer look at the gray sofa reveals that it also has wooden legs like the armchair. This also matches with the built-in wooden shelf on the far wall behind the sofa.

This angle of the living room showcases the lovely glass-top coffee table with an irregular shape to pair with the patterned beige area rug. This also shows the black exposed beam of the cathedral ceiling.

This is a look at the living room from the vantage of the kitchen island. This angle shows more of the white cathedral ceiling and its single black exposed beam that connects with a black column.

This is the kitchen with a large kitchen island topped with black pendant lights from the white ceiling. This matches well with the white cabinetry lining the walls housing the appliances.

The primary bedroom has a large bed with a wooden headboard that matches with the small bedside table. These are complemented by the matte navy blue wall that makes the decorative pendant light stand out.

The primary bedroom has a large bathtub under the window adorned with a hanging plant on the side.

This other bathroom has a glass-enclosed shower area. It has white subway tiles on its walls that contrast well with the black fixtures of the bathroom.

This is the lovely wooden vanity of the bathroom contrasted by its freestanding white porcelain bowl sink.This pairs well with the white subway tiles of the walls.

This side of the house also has a covered patio beside the beautiful lemon tree. This view also shows the black door that stands out against the white exterior walls.

The covered patio is fitted with a large outdoor sofa set shaded by the tall trees. These are standing on a pebbled ground that has a light tone to contrast the green landscape.

This is a closer look at the black door. It has a small cushioned wooden bench on the side that contrasts the wooden deck flooring. Beside this is a small grilling station.

Behind the sofa set of the covered patio is a large wooden shed for storage and can also serve as a workshop.

This is a closer look at the stainless steel chimney above the living room. It stands out against the exteriors of the house.

This view of the house shows that the property is surrounded by a thin mesh wire fence to mark the boundaries of the grounds filled with fruit-bearing trees.

The property also has a chicken coop with lots of space for a healthy chicken growth.

This is the view of the property from the vantage of the street. Here you can see that it still has a lot of free space beyond the wire fence. This also shows how the house is covered by the thick vegetation around it.

This is the lovely scenery of the sea that can be seen just a few steps from the house.

Location: Wallaroy Dve, Burrill Lake, NSW, Australia
Architect: Jost Architects
Builder: David Gleeson
Photographs: The Evoke Company
Construction Budget: $220,000

Finishes
External Cladding:
Timber Fascias: Vic Ash timber battens
Metal Cladding: Lysaght Custom Orb metal sheet with marine grade Colorbond finish
Lightweight Sheet Cladding: Weathertex Weathergroove Smooth150

Feature Pendant Lighting
Kitchen, Living & Dining – Polk Pendants from Project Lighting
Bedroom – Oriel Acorn Natural Timber light from Temple & Webster
Bathrooms – Rouge Tesla Pendant from Temple & Webster

Interior Finishes
Living Joinery – VJ Lining board by David Gunn Designs
Shelving nook – Recycled local timber by client
Bathroom Joinery – Recycled local Blackbutt by Ross Wackett of ‘Furniture Not Firewood’

Flooring
Existing Timber Flooring – Cypress Pine with a lime wash finish by Floor Space Sanding
New Timber Flooring – Select grade Vic Ash
Tiles by TV by AHOY trading

Benchtops
Kitchen – Insitu Concrete slab sealed and polished by Floor Space Sanding

Sanitaryware
Tap Fittings – Phoenix Toi taps
Bath Deso Halo bath from Swann Plumbing

Furniture
Sofa – Freedom
Antique Parker recliner – Retro Antiques in Milton
Credenza – Dave Gunn Design
Primary bed – Primary Lewis
Kid’s cots – Leander
Beanbag in living room – Morocco
Embroidered Cushions in Living room – NicCoco Designs
Cushions on bed – Liberty London
Rug in living room AURugs
Rug in bedroom – Armadillo
Mirror in primary bedroom – Global Gatherings Taupe
Tall Mirror, Temple & Webster
Mirror in ensuite – Temple & Webster
Noguchi Coffee Table bought over from UK

Artwork
living room – Spirited Away by Kirsty Mitchel (white one),
Nude in hallway by Alison Lewis,
Primary Bed – Custom Copper Wall Hanging Botanical Boheme from Etsy,
whale bone from juvenile whale washed up on burrill beach,
Woodturner ‘BLAZE 600’ – Sneddons