Atlantic Drive

A coastal home on an elevated site

Built on top of a coastal escarpment, the design provides comfortable accommodation for a retired couple on an exposed plot with expansive sea views.

Living spaces are arranged within a larger volume, allowing for contact to be maintained throughout many of the daytime rituals. The bedrooms are clustered in an adjoining wing through variations in scale of a familiar archetypal form. The spatial arrangement on site provides connection and shelter to distinct outdoor spaces that vary in terms of orientation, views and privacy. 

The ever-present west coast onshore wind is a vital consideration in the design. This motivated a concentration of glazing to allow for coastal views from most of the living areas of the house. The openings were carefully positioned to ensure privacy while making the best of greenbelt spaces to the south west where development is restricted. This also informed the placement of a private courtyard to the north, providing wind-free and sun-drenched outdoor space for gardening and outdoor entertaining.