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This multi-level home at Guerilla Bay on the NSW South Coast has been crowned the 2020 HIA-CSR ACT and Southern NSW Home of the Year. Photo: Supplied.
A stunning property on the NSW South Coast that was designed and built to be a lasting feature of its environment and to take advantage of its spectacular beach location has taken out the 2020 HIA-CSR ACT and Southern NSW Home of the Year.
The three-level family home at Guerilla Bay was designed by small Canberra firm Steve Andrea Architecture and built by South Coast builder Smith and Primmer, with interiors by Canberra-based Karin McNamara Design.
The judges described the winning home as bridging the divide between coastal and luxury living, setting the tone by defending against the elements – including the threat of bushfire – and embracing the views from its location.
The design used a bold palette of off-form concrete, copper cladding and steel windows, while the project team included a high level of detailing and craftsmanship to produce a truly unique property.
Architect Steve Andrea said it was an awesome project to be involved in, especially for a small firm of only three people.
“We were incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to have a go at a project like that,” he said.
“We were ruled strongly by the fact we were in a flame zone so the place had to be entirely fire shuttered and 100 per cent fire proof, including fully automated shutters.”
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But the stunning coastal views also were preeminent in the client’s thinking and every room in the home has been placed in an ideal position to capture the seascapes.
Mr Andrea paid tribute to the builder, who added a huge amount of value in the detail, including a feature central staircase that very few builders would be able to pull off.
Smith and Primmer delivered the trades who could do the job and provide an X-factor.
The complex build took three years and required the team to be nimble and adapt to many changes along the way.
“The simplicity of the entire project belied its complexity,” said Mr Andrea. “But the simple things are the hardest to pull off.”
However, the outcome was well worth it, and Mr Andrea said the home had an amazing serenity about it.
“Smith and Primmer did an awesome job, the clients were fantastic and it is a beautiful outcome,” he said.
The client’s goal was to create a home that would bond a family and bring future generations together.
The Guerilla Bay home will now go on to represent the region at the HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards.
Original Article published by Ian Bushnell on The RiotACT.