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| Today's beach house |
| A beach house firmly styled in the new millenium, and built on a shoestring budget. |
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There was a time when a beach house was a timber shack with striped curtains and a sandy floor. Now, this Oriental Queenslander has opened its doors as the beach house of the new millennium. Of course, you can't avoid a little sand on the floor, but it's all part of life at the beach.
Rick Neller wanted a three bedroom beach house that was fun to live in, with a pool, landscaping and a double lock-up garage. And all with a budget of $200,000. Building designer, Jeff Lee, created a house in line with Rick's brief and building began.
A builder, Rick worked on the house himself, intending to rent it to tourists. But before the house was finished he decided it would be perfect for his family and they soon moved in. Rick has lived in the area for 20 years and has built a lot of beach houses. He prides himself on never building the same house twice.
The land site is rich with Melaleuca trees and sits beside a coastal wetland, so it was important to minimise the impact on the environment. The house is a lightweight structure built off the ground, above the wetland. Rick used building materials that would reflect the traditional Australian beach hut of tin and timber. He also decided to construct two pavilions that would be linked by a covered deck.
Rick was keen to incorporate triangular design and the three method into his beach house. This includes groupings of three, which is compatible with the Feng Shui principle of design. This is evident in the roof, which uses exposed beams to create triangles. The garden was designed by Rick and also incorporates the three method. It is quite oriental in its use of tropical plants and gravel, but Rick also used natives to attract wildlife.
The eastern pavilion was restricted to ground level to maximise the view from other areas of the house and to improve ventilation. To ensure privacy, the house is built at the southern end of the block. The property is close to a busy road, so Rick and Jeff used some clever techniques to minimise noise. The house is separated from the road by a walled courtyard, while the walk-in robe and change rooms provide sound absorption for the bedrooms.
The deck links the two pavilions and is the heart of the house. This is where Rick and his family sit to enjoy the view and entertain guests. The space is open, but can be secured by timber plantation shutters. A skillion roof over the deck catches the breeze and provides additional shade, cooling the house during summer.
Rick's beach house has won many awards:- BDAQ 2000 State Premier Award
- BDAQ 2000 State Design Award — contract homes up to 200sqm
- The Maroochy Excellence in Building and Planning Award 2000 Sunshine Coast Home of the Year (up to $200,000)
- The Maroochy Excellence in Building and Planning Award 2000 Landscape Architecture
- QMBA Regional Award 2000 — Timber Housing up to $250,000
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More Info
Building designer:
Jeff Lee MBDAQ
Jeff Lee & Associates
6 Lorikeet Drive
Peregian Beach QLD
Ph: 07 5448 1275
Fax: 07 5448 3079
E-mail: jleeassoc@bigpond.com
Builder:
Rick Neller
Mbl: 0417 710 980
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