Inside a Dreamy Beach House Designed For Easy Living (House Tour)

A considered interpretation of a humble beach shack, Copacabana Beach House is a simple, functional, dreamy beach house nestled along the NSW Central Coast. Polly Harbison Design combines robust materiality with a pared-back palette to create a house that is a private sanctuary enveloped by the coastal landscape.
“One of the things we were really trying to capture is the spirit of a beach house, which is kind of a beach shack,” says Polly Harbison, principal at Polly Harbison Design. To achieve this, the dreamy beach house encompasses a simple form that captures views of the bush and beach while filtering out neighbouring houses. “The site is quite an unusual site - it's long, narrow and steep, sitting on the hilltop behind Copacabana looking towards the beach,” says Polly. Despite its simple form, the facade of the home is strong - a walled courtyard is visible from the laneway, leading to a “secret” timber gate that offers glimpses through to the courtyard and the beach beyond.
“With a challenging site like this, it is the form of the building that can have the biggest impact on the microclimate and the livability of the space,” says Polly. As such, an L-shaped form creates a north-facing courtyard that captures the winter sun and allows the building to breathe. Similarly, the long, narrow form of the kitchen acts like a periscope to frame the view of the beach. “In this way, the livability of the site is greatly improved, but more importantly, the form of the building is also about capturing and framing the available views,” says Polly. A beautiful balcony with concealed railings at the sides blocks neighbouring buildings, while a very fine galvanised balustrade at the front allows for uninterrupted coastal views.
Central to the dreamy beach house’s robust yet minimalistic feel is its use of timber. A blackbutt veneer with a solid timber edge makes up the exterior and dominates throughout the interior design and joinery. Stefan Zandt, director aand builder at Zandt Building says, “working with timber in a minimalistic fashion is tricky in the sense that timber moves. Hardwood in particular works in strange ways, especially when you are trying to acclimate it to the outside of a building where you can't control the climate, so we did a lot of test panels to see what the best fixing method is and how it was going to age … and with no splits five years later, it has absolutely worked.” The timber is complemented by simple and pared-back furnishings and decor - much like a classic beach shack - allowing the timber to remain the hero.
“One of the most important design considerations with this building was to connect the building to the beautiful pocket of remnant bush on the lower part of the site,” says Polly. As such, multigenerational living spaces are tucked underneath the main living section so that the rooms have a connection to the bush and offer filtered views through the trees to the ocean beyond. The addition of a sheep trough for a bath and an outdoor shower adds to the feeling of a summer oasis within a livable, dreamy beach house.
Polly reflects, “experiencing the Copacabana Beach House is a sequence of contrasts.” From the harsh environment of the laneway access to the private sanctuary of the courtyard and the cocoon-like interiors, Polly Harbison Design crafts a dreamy beach house that encourages an easy lifestyle, immersed in nature.
00:00 - Introduction to the Dreamy Beach House
01:02 - The Sleepy Coastal Location
01:42 - The Form of the Building
02:20 - A Functional Layout
02:55 - Working with Timber
04:31 - The Key Design Considerations
05:25 - Experiencing the House
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Photography by Pablo Veiga.
Architecture by Polly Harbison Design.
Build by Zandt Building.
Landscape Design by Michael Cooke Garden Design.
Structural Engineering by Eddy Consulting.
Filmed by The Local Project.
Edited by HN Media.
Production by The Local Project.
Location: Copacabana, New South Wales, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
#BeachHouse #Design #TheLocalProject

[@TheLocalProject]

We hope you all enjoyed into the serene world of Copacabana Beach House! Polly Harbison Design has truly redefined the essence of a beach shack, transforming it into a dreamy coastal sanctuary along the NSW Central Coast. For more of the latest and greatest in architecture, interior design and house tours, be sure to order a copy of our book ‘10’: thelocalproject.com.au/product/10-celebrating-10-issues-of-the-local-project/

[@mrvk39]

I want to leave a comment about the builder - i rarely see anyone leave a comment about them. But it's pretty incredible how he leaves timber out for a very long time to see how it will respond to the environment and then builds a timber house with that in mind. I would imagine that otherwise, you would be left with gaping holes everywhere. And, on top of that, that builder left a dining room table as a parting gift. Most experiences with builders leave you with a surprise bill as a parting gift...

[@emidala1]

Totally agree!

[@tonileenemanick727]

Yes! This is first Local Project video I’ve seen that includes the builder. Well done!

[@ValithubaOliphant-qy6ty]

Indeed

[@mkf628]

this bloke seems to have integrity, streuth mate!

[@keithronson2624]

As below, yes all too often the builder and his Team do not get the credit they deserve. This build is incredible and the attention to detail and the care taken is 'second to none'. Thank you. Your knowledge and passion is so refreshing. As for the dining table! Wow! What a gesture and what a superb design and craftsman product. Superb. And yes the house, in a word 'idyllic'. What a place to live. What a home. Stunning. It would be such a daily pleasure to live here. One of the best homes recently featured on the channel. Thank you all so much for sharing.

[@kayelyward8714]

The love, knowledge, skill, and experience with timber of the architect and the builder shows because the home is beautiful and captivating. The courtyard is a lovely feature to have. The views of the kitchen were spectacular with the wood and then the gleaming tile and the wall. Divine in its simplicity. The table is wonderful and it is toucing to see a builder create a table as a gift to the owner. The strength of the relationships between the owner, architect, and builder and the appreciation they have for another shows in the finished product.

[@fluffer4049]

Would have liked to see more of this house. It is stunning.

[@oliverlondon5246]

I love this house and the craftsmanship ❤

[@M.MultiverseChannel]

Same

[@TheSushmaHomeSellingTeam]

The local project is one of the recommended channel for interior designing and layouts. 💖💖

[@mkf628]

This house has a great down to earth feel to it, well done! Also, love the tiles.

[@TheLocalProject]

It does!

[@empireofpeaches]

The blackbutt joinery is so beautiful. Nice work team!

[@TheLocalProject]

It really is!

[@CasaAnKanMiami]

Fascinated by projects that showcase the evolution of a house over time, particularly when timber is utilized to seamlessly blend the indoor and outdoor spaces.

[@angelaballard3929]

A beautifully executed building

[@Artix13]

Amazing house, love the little green oasis but that VIEW from the balcony! Just wow.

[@Jglendab8153]

So beautiful

[@darien33]

Hermosa casa. Me encanta el exterior y la sencillez

[@Houseds]

Beautiful house with poetic natural scenery

[@pollopacheco1891]

Hermoso trabajo de diseño y construcción ❤

[@ali_films]

Beautiful place!

[@luka2nd]

Absolutely stunning house. I love it!

[@TheLocalProject]

Glad you like it!

[@jimmybigelow3876]

Very nice. Hello from Eugene Oregon in the US. Cheers.

[@TheLocalProject]

Hello there!

[@luckyleaprealestate]

Thank You Home Tour

[@DONhousestudio]

Wow so beautiful❤❤

[@andrew4809]

Useful as firewood

[@NK-rm7kc]

Boi

[@PastorJorgeCarlosMartinez]

Does anyone know what camera they use to shoot these beautiful videos?

[@lovelove-bc8ri]

이 분 채널 영상들은 대부분 다 예쁘고 멋진 집인데.. 평면도가 없어서 좀 아쉬움

[@eclecticism]

왜요?

[@empireofpeaches]

Good question, I would like to see the floor plans too. I wonder if they are included in their print publications? (Book and magazines)

[@ivanklymenko]

🥰🥰🥰

[@mihaidaniliuc1001]

Dacă aș putea aș pune 2 like.

[@andream.313]

More solar panels

[@justthink5854]

too bad the warmth of the ext didn't continue with the int.

[@ginacrusco234]

Yes, it's good to include the fabricator. Still, I can't help noticing that he is included when the designer is a woman. I'm sure she would have had sufficient gravitas to stand on her own, as almost every male designer on this series does.

[@gregpendrey6711]

All the kids that couldnt say thei-a aaw-s went to speech therapy in aaw school.

[@alexspapen9169]

I'm glad the lady is wearing a dress and not trousers

[@angelaballard3929]

Pointless comment in this day and age

[@lucas-prado]

What a futile comment.