Dawn BeachA reworking of an old beach house

An extensive renovation of a dated, 1990’s villa on Smith’s Reef, Dawn Beach expands the home while simplifying the ocean-facing facade. Framed by deep, solid timber cumaru portal structures that hold cantilevered terraces, four new, equally sized oceanfront bedrooms make the most of the vividly coloured vistas of Princess Alexandra Marine National Park. These hardwood structures furnish this frontage with a casual, elegant architecture that records the passage of sunlight over the external surfaces.

To the rear of the villa, a carefully choreographed arrival sequence winds through mature trees. A meandering staircase, bounded by large planters of tropical flora, rises from the forecourt to the entry door. Behind the trees, a new gym building, constructed in boardmarked concrete, blends into the densely vegetated setting. A reimagined interior of bright, inviting spaces with rip-sawn oak millwork and travertine flooring completes this serene beach home.