Location: Bundeena, New South Wales

Status: In progress

Planá is located in the small beach side village of Bundeena, set within the Royal National Park, just south of Sydney. The location is spectacular, with beaches, forests and remote coastal walks all accessible from the town. The site is located close to the beach and local shops but is also flood prone and suburban in its character. 

This project is a ‘forever house’ for a couple who have recently retired and are looking to create a home that they will be able to occupy into old age. As such, the house has been designed to facilitate ‘ageing in place’ with all key living areas on grade and attention being given to spatial planning and details that will allow the owners to remain in the home if their mobility becomes impaired in the future.

This project employs a courtyard typology to draw abundant daylight into all areas of the home and to curate views to the outside. Raised garden beds, outdoor lounges and outdoor dining are all contained within a walled courtyard that is on grade with the internal living areas. The courtyard offers seclusion and privacy despite the site’s suburban context.

Materially, a simple palette of brick, stone and timber is repeated throughout the house in varying formats including hit-and-miss brickwork, solid brickwork, timber batten screens and solid timber cladding. This textural play on materials is used to manipulate light and shadow, translucency and opacity and to control privacy.

Planá has been designed to funnel abundant sunlight and natural ventilation through all main living areas and minimises its environmental impact through both passive and technological means. Planá is robust yet warm and thoughtfully pragmatic while also offering moments of delight and surprise.