MACMASTERS BEACH COURTYARD HOUSE
Macmasters Beach, NSW
This multi-generational family residence sits on nearly a hectare of headland at the southern tip of Macmasters Beach, with views to ocean and Bouddi National Park. The brief required three distinct zones—parents' wing, children's wing, and guest wing—organized around a central courtyard and pool.
The design arranges three pavilions around the courtyard, creating privacy between zones while maintaining visual and physical connection through the central space. A double-height entry features floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall glazing on north and south elevations, with an off-form concrete blade wall and cantilevered black steel staircase leading to the main bedroom above.
Material palette emphasizes texture and restraint: Scyon Matrix cladding (black), polished pebbled-concrete floors throughout, recycled brick feature wall in living room, and high-set ceilings. Windows are deep-set within the building envelope, protected by deep eaves while framing specific views.
The courtyard and pool become the organizing element—all primary living spaces open to this central volume, enabling natural cross-ventilation and eliminating reliance on mechanical cooling. Landscape design by Costata integrates native plantings with the surrounding bushland, maintaining privacy despite the scale of the residence.
Project Details
Location: Macmasters Beach, NSW
Completed: 2018
Structural Engineer: Thitchener Consulting
Landscape Design: Costata Landscape Design
Photography: Luke Butterly
Awards:
Commendation, Residential Architecture – Houses (New), Newcastle Architecture Awards (2019)
Press:
Inside Out Magazine (October 2020)