Creek HouseA tidal inlet retreat

This compact home is located on the edge of a beautiful tidal inlet in the quiet residential area of Thompson Cove. Its elevated location on a steep hillside affords aerial views of the Thompson Cove nature reserve, as well as distant views to the gentle arc of the island’s barrier reef.

The site itself is long, thin and arcing. It spans between a meadow to the south and the water’s edge to the north. We positioned the main house to the far north, and a guest house to the far south, with the distance between them providing for a terrace garden with orchard whilst affording views of the water and meadow to both buildings.

We conceived the buildings as a series of stone walled terraces that appear to be materially anchored into the site, much like agricultural walls in terraced mediterranean olive groves. We wanted to terrace the buildings so that they sat comfortably within the contours and profile of the hill.

This desire to terrace the home developed a building of two parts, with the two principle bedrooms hugging tight to the hillside, and the living and dining room pulled outward like a drawer to connect with the pool deck and dining terrace, whilst capturing the best views of the meandering creek as its leads to the ocean.

Below the main deck level is a third guest bedroom, with utility room, paddleboard stores and rainwater storage tanks. Above the main deck is a roof terrace with 180 degree panoramic views and concealed solar panels to ensure self-sufficient power generation. At the buildings’ rear sides are two arced cut-outs in the rock for outdoor showering and bathing.

The atmosphere that this home has sought to create is one of a rural retreat. It has natural, exposed finishes throughout the interior, and it is decidedly low-tech. Even the slatted timber awnings that shade the windows will be raised and lowered mechanically by hand. This will be a place for paring back and slowing down.