Palm Beach House designed by Alexander &CO. is the transformation of an existing waterfront holiday villa in Palm Beach, Sydney. The project is a restrained approach to a traditional European vernacular, exploring bespoke quality detailing, materiality and architectural framing. Photography by Felix Forest

With the existing house ineffectively dealing with scale limitations, the brief was primarily to explore how we could reintroduce a higher quality of spatial resolution. The plans and volumes were subsequently rationalized around better circulation, view corridors and access to the water.
With an emphasis placed on architectural framing and the suitable transition from interior to exterior. The garden was refined, designed with proportion in mind in order to achieve a sense of privacy as well as maximize use of amenities for the client. The large-scale opening explored opportunity for external living and dining, an integral aspect to the client brief addressing the need for entertaining spaces, essential for a ?home away from home?. The house is focused upon the ?hand made?. Fittings, finishes, lighting and claddings all express an artisan reference point. The paired back interiors, subdued palette and hand made quality creates a ?lived in? atmosphere for the client, an important element for them to experience a sense of place and history.

The dwelling, pushed back from the water?s edge, presented challenges, due to this lack of ...