Sunfilled room with skylights and a large moving timber wall. Beach views.

The Arena

Outlook & Refuge by the Sea

Timber-lined kitchen island bench with skylights above and lush garden beyond.
Comfortable couch with First Nations artwork beyond
Outlook to the bush and ocean from the kitchen
Entertaining deck area connecting to internal living spaces
Skylights and mottled light through the trees
Bedroom with subtle custom joinery and timber door handles
Light filled internal timber stairs with open treads.
Unique pink tiles in a shower alcove.
Ferns and corten steel at the top custom stairs
Corten steel wall with an outdoor mirror
A custom timber entry door with brass light fitting.

Project Info

Traditional Custodians
Darkinjung

Project Lead
Stephen Sherd

Completion date
2022

Builder
Maple.

Structural Engineer
Skelton Consulting

Photography
Grace Picot

Project Description

The Arena residence is tuned to its location - designed to allow its occupants to experience the coastal lifestyle of North Avoca, whilst retaining a sense of privacy and refuge.

The project reinvigorated and refurbished an existing house, the main works being recladding and restructuring the internal footprint to maximise the sightlines to the beach below.

The lift provides vertical circulation but also acts as a light well, dispersing light through the lower levels. Capturing the views from the residences commanding position, the home nestles into sites green hillside while maintaining sight lines to the coastline even from deep within the floorplan.

Deep-edged skylights puncture the roof and dramatically capture natural light, while a large rear window provides the occupants a connection to the lush landscape to the rear of the property.

Each level of the home has a large wrap around balcony, which provides connection to external spaces, catching and controlling access to natural light and ocean breezes.

Modern timber floors, Venetian plastering, and coastal finishes provide the spaces with warmth through materiality.

Our Thoughts

We feel as thoughThe Arena accomplishes a tasteful blend of the Australian coastal aesthetic and textural finishes without losing a sense of individuality.

Ultimately though, it’s all about the sounds, smells, and views of the ocean. Aren’t we lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world?