Houzz Tour: Beach House With Curves in All the Right Places
A graceful concrete unipod built into a hill in Sydney reaches for ocean views
Tama’s Tee Home, named for its T-shaped design and location in Sydney’s beachside neighborhood of Tamarama, was constructed on the solid remains of the original house that stood on the steep and narrow lot. The best way to accommodate the needs and wants of a family of three and their guests was to build a concrete unipod that rests its full weight on the garage structure below it.
Narrow houses hunch together on the headlands overlooking Tamarama Beach. They seem to jostle for position, seeking uninterrupted ocean views.
Rosselli redesigned this home with the vista, steep slope and weather in mind, along with his clients’ wishes: Since this family loves the beach and entertaining, the house had to be practical and pretty.
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Rosselli redesigned this home with the vista, steep slope and weather in mind, along with his clients’ wishes: Since this family loves the beach and entertaining, the house had to be practical and pretty.
Find an architect in the Houzz pro directory
After demolishing about 40 percent of the house, Rosselli redesigned it to fit into the hillside, with four stories maximizing every bit of space.
“The most challenging aspect of the project was working with the existing structure,” Rosselli says. “In comparison with the house that was originally on the site, the build looks like a completely new build. However, we retained over 60 percent of the original structures, including the street-level garage, the retaining wall and a number of internal walls in the house.”
The new additions were built over the existing garage and sandstone retaining wall, balancing on a T-shaped concrete pillar splayed out to carry the main living level of the house.
“The most challenging aspect of the project was working with the existing structure,” Rosselli says. “In comparison with the house that was originally on the site, the build looks like a completely new build. However, we retained over 60 percent of the original structures, including the street-level garage, the retaining wall and a number of internal walls in the house.”
The new additions were built over the existing garage and sandstone retaining wall, balancing on a T-shaped concrete pillar splayed out to carry the main living level of the house.
Salt, humidity and wind can wreak havoc on oceanside homes, so weather resistance was an important consideration in the design, material selection and construction phases of this project.
Concrete, stainless steel and marine-grade roofing were chosen for their robust qualities.
Concrete, stainless steel and marine-grade roofing were chosen for their robust qualities.
Curved corners have become a signature Rosselli design trait. In this case, the concrete curves were formed with wood-grained boards.
Marine-grade plywood shutters routed with a CNC (computer numerical control) machine can slide in front of the windows and terrace to provide protection from the elements as needed for the covered outdoor dining area.
Marine-grade plywood shutters routed with a CNC (computer numerical control) machine can slide in front of the windows and terrace to provide protection from the elements as needed for the covered outdoor dining area.
The dining area, which contains a Carrara marble table, is ideal for entertaining for much of the year.
The shutters provide protection but don’t block the view outside. From the street, however, they screen the area from prying eyes.
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The shutters provide protection but don’t block the view outside. From the street, however, they screen the area from prying eyes.
Find Carrara marble dining tables in the Houzz Shop
Project architect Raffaello Rosselli added detailing and materials in line with the refined beach house aesthetic the clients wanted, opting for natural materials, exposed roof framing and light finishes.
The custom-designed shutters allow dappled and ever-changing light to filter in to the interiors. Light and breezy curtains offer additional light control.
Engineered wood flooring: Tongue n Groove
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The custom-designed shutters allow dappled and ever-changing light to filter in to the interiors. Light and breezy curtains offer additional light control.
Engineered wood flooring: Tongue n Groove
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The ceiling joists feature traditional crisscross braces.
Norfolk pines thrive on the salt- ravaged escarpments of Tamarama, providing a vertical contrast against the line of horizon.
“The Romans liked orthogonality,” Luigi Rosselli says. “Horizons had to have vertical contrasting lines, often provided by obelisks or columns. Seascapes also require vertical elements, such as this tree or a sailing mast.”
The Mantis floor lamp was designed by Bernard Schottlander in the 1950s.
“The Romans liked orthogonality,” Luigi Rosselli says. “Horizons had to have vertical contrasting lines, often provided by obelisks or columns. Seascapes also require vertical elements, such as this tree or a sailing mast.”
The Mantis floor lamp was designed by Bernard Schottlander in the 1950s.
A standout feature of the third level is the sculptural fireplace, named Rorschach Blotch by the architect for its resemblance to an inkblot in a Rorschach psychological test. The free-form gas fireplace sits in the center of the space, serving the dining room, kitchen and TV room.
Further sculptural interest comes from Christopher Boots’ Oracle pendant light in the dining area. The painting is by Joshua Yeldham.
Browse paintings on Houzz
Browse paintings on Houzz
The kitchen island echoes the curves of the fireplace. The laboratory-grade engineered stone countertop by Stone Italia has a matte finish — a departure from the glossy countertops typical of many homes.
Building With Options, the builder for this project, constructed the kitchen cabinets.
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Building With Options, the builder for this project, constructed the kitchen cabinets.
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The floor presented another opportunity to show off some curves.
The uber-stylish powder room is sandwiched between the laundry and the butler’s pantry.
The basement houses a two-car garage and a cellar. There is elevator access to the three levels above.
The self-contained ground-floor level has a future-proof, flexible layout with the same indoor-outdoor living areas as the rest of the house. It currently serves as a teen pad. The plunge pool is also on this level.
The third level contains a bedroom with en suite bathroom and walk-in closet, the laundry and the shared living spaces.
The top floor has a bedroom, a study and a master suite complete with private terrace and dressing room.
Stairs from the main living areas descend to the teen retreat.
This is the covered patio off the rumpus room on the ground floor. Luigi Rosselli likens the curved junction between the pillar and the beam to the junction of the nose and the eyebrows. The openings frame the ocean and hillside views.
Ceramic tile flooring: Terra Nova Tiles
Ceramic tile flooring: Terra Nova Tiles
The master suite features a double vanity in the bedroom and an en suite behind.
Penny tiles and those telltale curves make these walls a surprising and eye-catching feature of the master bedroom.
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More on Houzz
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Read about other homes around the world
Find a bathroom designer
Shop for penny tiles
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their teenage daughter and a dog
Location: Tamarama area of Sydney
Size: 3,229 square feet (300 square meters); four bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
Designer: Luigi Rosselli Architects (architecture and interior design)
“Our favorite part of the home is the way the structure balances on one foot like a concrete ballerina,” says architect Luigi Rosselli.
He also loves the finish on the boarded concrete, created using off-white cement and wood-grained forms. “It lends the house a beachy feel despite the material not being traditionally associated with the beach. We also like the way this feeling is continued through the interior spaces, providing a real sense of place to the finished home.”