Saltstone Residence

White residence next to the sea under a large white sky

Location

Sydney, NSW

Recognition

AIA NSW Architecture Awards 2024 — Residential Architecture Commendation

Overview

A complete redesign of a 1970s beach house on a north-facing double block in Avalon. The brief was simple: keep nothing except what was worth keeping.

Challenge

The existing house was structurally adequate but spatially dysfunctional — low ceilings, compartmentalised rooms, a garage that blocked the view from the living areas. The clients wanted to open the house to its garden and beach outlook without a full demolish.

Solution

We retained the original slab and external block walls, demolishing the internal structure entirely. A new roof was engineered to create double-height spaces in the living areas and introduce clerestory windows on the north elevation. The garage was converted to a guest studio. All joinery was designed in-house.

Result

Published in Vogue Living, Autumn 2023. 28% reduction in construction cost vs. full demolish and rebuild · AIA NSW Architecture Awards 2024 — Residential Architecture Commendation · Guest studio now rented seasonally — estimated $28,000 annual yield.