New Beauty Point Home Blends Brutalist Aesthetic with Contemporary Touch

A striking new home in Beauty Point has captured the attention of architecture enthusiasts and designers alike. The single-family residence, designed by CO-AP, has taken the brutalist aesthetic and given it a contemporary, modern twist.

The home's brutalist roots are evident in its off-form concrete walls and robust materials, including steel. However, it's the thoughtful use of materials and clever layout that sets this home apart.

The owners, a couple with two children, had a clear vision in mind when they approached the architects. 'We love 1970s brutalism,' they said to Will Fung, director of CO-AP. The architects were thrilled to hear this, as it was music to their ears.

The home's layout has been carefully designed to take advantage of the site's contours. From the pavement, the home appears to be a single-level residence with an angular, mansard-style aluminium roof. However, as you step inside, the harbour makes its presence felt through large sliding doors and windows that frame the living areas.

The owners had lived in the original house on the site for over a year while planning the new home. They had become accustomed to sitting on the front verandah in the eastern morning light, enjoying a coffee. The architects have included a generous terrace as part of the entrance sequence, allowing them to experience a similar feeling.

The home features a kitchen, dining, and living areas at ground level, oriented towards the north-west. A curvaceous outdoor terrace extends the line of the sunken lounge, creating a swath across the site while also increasing the breadth of the view over the water.

CO-AP was mindful of the protected gum trees and established angophora on the site. The colour of the angophora even informed the colour palette for both the aluminium used for the roof and for the interior.

The galley-style kitchen features mossy green porcelain tiles, while the splashback is made from Verdi, a greenish marble. A bespoke island bench/table supported by two chunky steel legs painted in a soft mushroom adds a touch of modernity.

When it came to furnishing the sunken lounge, the palette started with two Gerrit Rietveld armchairs in an avocado hue. 'Our clients already had these pieces, so we went with that green palette,' says Fung.

The home's careful planning and subtle delineation of spaces make it a standout. The timber veneer joinery separating the kitchen from the dining area works hard to conceal everything from the pantry to the fridge and appliance cupboard.

Just completed, Beauty Point house responds to its bush setting and is a gentle nod to the fact that architecture comes with a past as much as being for the future.