GOOLWA BEACH HOUSE

Grieve Gillett Architects Photography: Peter Barnes

Grieve Gillett Architects Photography: Peter Barnes

Grieve Gillett Architects Photography: Peter Barnes

Grieve Gillett Architects Photography: Peter Barnes
This house is nestled into the coastal dunes, 250 metres from the surf at Goolwa Beach in South Australia. It has been designed to maximise its relationship with and connection to this wonderful dune landscape.
The climatic conditions are extremely variable featuring strong winds (bearing sand, salt and rain) from the south west quadrant, cooling on-shore breezes (SE to SW), hot northerlies and occasional breathless warm nights. Accordingly the house has been designed to mitigate the less pleasant conditions while maximising the benefits of the benign weather events.
Timber decks to the north and south provide outdoor living opportunities in almost every kind of weather. Variable shading to the northern deck provides amenity in both winter and summer while the solar panels provide shade to the southern deck.
This project proves that air conditioning is unnecessary if houses are designed to work with the environment employing simple principles of well controlled cross ventilation, good insulation, external shading and sun control.

PROJECT DETAILS
Client: Private
Location: Goolwa Beach, SA
Budget: NA
Completion: 2011
TEAM
AWARDS
AIA 2013 (SA) Architecture Award in Sustainable Architecture
AIA 2013 (SA) Commendation in Residential Architecture
“With attention to detail, the Architect has produced a house that utilises natural materials that are both elegant in their simplicity, yet represent a strong approach to sustainable design."
"This house incorporates good orientation, appropriate insulation, good natural light and provides abundant cross flow ventilation, providing a building that is comfortable, without the need for air conditioning . . . Ultimately this house proves that an intelligent and creative approach incorporating sustainable principals and materials can produce an architecturally strong building, proud of its ESD inspired roots.”
Jury Citation AIA (SA) 2013







