1620 Shell House

Shell House is a custom home designed to maximise ocean vistas towards Cottesloe Beach. Working to the contours of a gently sloping site, the three bedroom (plus study) home provides a sculptural presence to its corner-lot site. Angled elements which appear to envelope the home in the form of a folding protective shell, evolved from the need to direct views and vistas whilst at the same time, creating a shield to maintain privacy with neighbours and from the oncoming passing traffic whilst addressing the harsh elements of the coastal weather and lowering late summer sun. From the street level, a permeable fence and low height boundary walls allow the landscape to provide interest for neighbourhood foot traffic, street surveillance and community interaction. Standing further back, the three dimensional arrangement of materials, form and colour provide visual interest to the streetscape, whilst respecting privacy to and from the dwelling.

The home design makes reference to a coastal and nautical theme due to its proximity to Cottesloe Beach. A bleached white exterior palette evokes the white sands and shells of the beach, while the warmer off-white tone of the tiled paving references the limestone embankments. Feature wall  panelling, inside and out, is clad in a cool ocean blue coloured durable aluminium sheet. The nautical theme is further applied to the interior design with bleached decking, limestone floor tiles and a pale, fresh colour scheme. A raw, matt finish steel troweled plaster stack runs from the ground floor to the upper floor providing an anchoring form to the structure. From the exterior, this is expressed as a monolithic element offering privacy from passing traffic. To the interior, the stack doubles in function to house media cabinets to both floor levels. 

The home features a glass facade facing the north to create a light, floating structure providing a sense of openness and views towards the Norfolk pine trees that adorn the street. Eaves provide deep reveals to outdoor alfresco areas and protection from the elements. These eaves are angled to allow quality winter north sunlight but control the harsh summer sun and fresh coastal breezes. These provide covered outdoor areas with which to enjoy the coastal lifestyle and views towards the ocean beyond. To the west side of the home, fixed screens and sun shading devices offer a necessary degree of privacy from passing traffic and to adjoining neighbours, whilst affording ocean vistas. A mesh platform is also incorporated into the design to allow occupants to maintain the exterior glazing that faces the coastal salt air. Large water thirsty grass verges have been replaced with the colour and texture of more natural low vegetation and existing mature trees have been carefully protected, all to enhance the beauty of the existing, local treelined streetscape.