Bawley Point, located four-and-a-half hours south of Sydney on the South Coast of New South Wales, is a quiet township, favoured by surfers and those seeking an isolated getaway. Its idyllic town centre has retained the modest and laid-back character of its post-war shacks (post-1945) and is largely regarded as a secret gem nestled upon the Pacific Ocean. It is however familiar terrain for Mark Korgul, Director of Watershed Architects, who used to frequent the area whilst at university, and still favours it for surf trips and family holidays.
The brief called for the thoughtful renovation and extension of an existing simple brick house into a holiday home, designed to accommodate multiple generations in a no-fuss, low-maintenance residence. The original home sat comfortably on the site, nestled behind the grass foreshore and encapsulated all the humble charm of Bawley Point that Mark had loved for decades, and thus Watershed Architects opted to maintain this original shack rather than demolish.
The original structure prescribed to a basic floorplan - two bedrooms, one bathroom, a modest kitchen and a living area, which covered only 100 square metres in its entirety. Following its renovation and extension, the new holiday home has doubled in size (250 square metres), and now happily accommodates family holidays and gatherings across its two living areas, four bedrooms, and generous outdoor decks, designed to be utilised all year round.
The silhouette of the original brick home is now clearly delineated from the new structure, with its newly bagged and pained white exterior contrasted beautifully against the grandness of the new double-storey addition, clad in black Weathertex cladding.
With connection a central theme of the renovation and extension brief, it was important to Watershed Architects that the home was able to accommodate gatherings year-round. The team facilitated this through the inclusion of a generous outdoor deck, oriented to the east, complete with a built-in barbecue and detailed with expressed timber and joints. The home is shouldered on either side by two-storey homes, so privacy to outdoor decks was also of paramount importance in the design of the Bawley Point holiday home. To combat this, a fixed-aluminium screen was included on the deck's southern elevation and on the northern side a retractable awning was installed on the upper level, which doubles as a means to filter harsh sunlight during warmer months.
Large balconies provide generous vistas across the Pacific Ocean, with a garden framed balcony at the front of the home and a larger deck on the first floor, which leads directly from the main bedroom and ensuite for additional privacy and retreat.
Despite Watershed Architects appreciation for the humble original residence, it was limited by design choices such as partial interior enclosure and low-ceilings, which further dated the structure. In contrast, the new extension has been thoughtfully crafted with double-height spaces over the entrance and main living space, with the latter centralised around an open fireplace; a central gathering place during colder months.
The seaside context of Bawley Point influenced the materiality of the renovation, which drew upon the sandy, volcanic-rock landscape that define coastal hamlet. The homes kitchen marries contemporary features alongside a simple materiality, with stone benches and laminate joinery making for low-maintenance upkeep that encourages guests to spend their time relaxing rather than cleaning. Two separate staircases - one in the interior entrance and one connecting the two-levels of decking so guests don't have to enter the house - encourage connection between guests and maximise the functionality of outdoor living spaces.
Bawley Point leans into its humble coastal context, embracing simplistic materiality and retaining its original structure to honour the quiet coastal landscape it resides in. Watershed Architects echoes the unpretentious value of the township through this renovation and extension, stripping away unnecessary design features to focus on what matters; connection, family, comfort and the stunning seaside environment that makes Bawley Point a year-round holiday retreat.
If you would like to learn more about Watershed Architects you can head over to their CO-architecture profile, where you can explore other projects such as Curl Curl 04, and learn about the studio's principles and services.
PROJECT DETAILS
Architecture: Watershed Architects
Location: Bawley Point, NSW
Photography: Simon Whitbread
Builder: Skwarko Construction
