Beach Archives

Stanaćev Granados divides levels of beach house with cargo net floor

Chilean architecture studio Stanaćev Granados has created a seaside house with a concrete and wood-clad exterior and a cargo net in the floor in Chorrillos, Chile.

Known as the Primeriza House, the 2,750-square foot (256-square metre) residence was completed in 2020 in a small clearing in a cypress-filled hill that slopes steeply down to the Pacific Ocean.

Rectilinear house by Stanaćev Granados — Stanaćev Granados perched Primeriza House on a cypress-filled Chilean hill

Stanaćev Granados, a Santiago-based studio run by Nataša Stanaćev and Manu Granados, designed the home to make the most of outdoor living while creating multiple interior environments and nooks within the home.

According to the studio, these dual considerations created “many transitional spaces” within the house.

The home’s concrete base is set firmly into the slope

Two storeys constitute the main body of the home, with the top volume cantilevering over the bottom one at points, all clad in darkly stained wood. The concrete base is set firmly into the slope with a semi-buried garage and storage area.

As the slope drops away, the foundations become retaining walls at the far ends of the plan. A sunken landscape terrace covers the garage as it approaches the main house.

“Thanks to the orientation of the entire volume, the house itself acts as a shield for the southern winds whipping its posterior facade, while the
entire front of the house remains unaffected by them,” said the studio.

Mudroom at Primeriza House — A southside terrace and mudroom are protected from the wind by earth

A pedestrian entrance was “nested” between the exposed concrete wall and the landscaped hill. It was meant to be “camouflaged in the vegetation”.

The entry staircase leads to a southside terrace and mudroom that are protected from the wind by an earthen wall embedded into the space.

Primary open-plan floor with floor-to-ceiling glazing — Stanaćev Granados wrapped the primary open-plan floor in wood

This entry terrace is clad in glass that allows views through the entirety of the ground floor, out to the sea. The studio described this layout and the use of glass as “kaleidoscopic”.

The primary floor – an open plan room with living, dining, and kitchen areas – is wrapped in wood and has floor-to-ceiling windows that open the space to a seaside north terrace.

The main floor transitions to the upper level through a double-height space.

Open weave cargo netting divides the volume and serves as an overhead play space.

Primeriza House — The sea-facing house is washed in dark wood

The safety netting appears again as the railing of the staircase.

The ground floor has a similar wood cladding to the exterior, while the upper floor features wood that has been painted white.

All-white bedroom at Primeriza House by Stanaćev Granados — Each room opens to a linear balcony through sliding floor-to-ceiling glass doors

“While the first floor absorbs the light that washes its surfaces from all orientations, the second floor reflects the exterior colours – it turns absolute white on misty days, and when the weather is clear, it takes on the bluish tones of the sky and the horizon in the morning hours, and stains orange at sunset,” the studio said.

Upstairs, the primary ensuite is located on the eastern end of the rectangular plan and the children’s rooms and playroom hold the other edge.

Each room opens through sliding floor-to-ceiling glass doors to a linear balcony along the house.

A skylight runs down the length of the house bringing light into the white-washed interior.

Green roof on top of the garage — A sun terrace is tucked between the green roof on top of the garage and the living room

About 800 kilometres north of the Primeriza House sits another recent Stanaćev Granados design, a cube-shaped holiday house known as Casa Kuvo.

The photography is by Marcos Zegers.

Project credits:

Architecture: Stanaćev Granados (Nataša Stanaćev & Manu Granados)
Interior and furniture design: Stanaćev Granados
Lighting design: Stanaćev Granados
Landscaping: Vanessa Barrois (Landscaperschile) and Joaquín Lobato
Structural design: Alberto Ramírez
Construction: Claudio Lagos, Florent Dromard

Reference

Architecture

Montalba Architects prioritises nature at Manhattan Beach House

By Zarkon Group,25/08/2023

A slender pool lined with a “vertical garden” features in an oceanfront home in southern California designed by US studio Montalba Architects.

The house is located within a dense, beachside neighbourhood in Manhattan Beach outside of Los Angeles. Designed for a couple who are long-time residents of the area, the dwelling is imbued with a sense of calm and a connection to the outdoors.

Exterior of a multi-storey home in California by Montalba Architects — Facades were covered in stucco and western cedar

“Manhattan Beach House is intended to provide a spacious, peaceful feeling, offering an experience close to nature throughout the interior of the building itself,” said Los Angeles-based studio Montalba Architects

Situated on a narrow, sloped lot, the home rises three levels and encompasses 6,000 square feet (557 square metres).

Courtyard with a planted tree in a Californian home by Montalba Architects — Montalba Architects aimed to provide a connection to nature in the home

Facades are clad in smooth-troweled stucco and western cedar. Along the front elevation, a cedar and aluminium screen provides privacy and acts as a guardrail.

The slatted screen wraps around the north side of the home, where the main entrance is located. The screen adds definition to an entry courtyard while also providing visual continuity between the front and side facades.

Steps leading to an outdoor swimming pool with a green wall — A green wall sits beside an outdoor swimming pool

The front elevation looks west, toward the ocean, while the rear side faces an alley. To form sight lines and usher in daylight, the team focused on creating openings on both the exterior and within the house.

“Behind the street front, the volume of the house dissolves, with glimpses through openings between floors and between distant rooms.”

On the ground level, the team placed a four-car garage, gym, laundry room and guest quarters. The first floor holds the primary bedroom suite and a pair of offices, along with a two-car garage that is accessed via the alley.

A double-height courtyard on the first floor showcases a maple tree that is meant to be “a reminder of natural time and the seasons”.

“The courtyard is visible throughout the house, whether moving along the length of the house or up to the third floor,” the team said.

Living room in a Californian home with seating, a piano, and glass sliding doors with views of the city skyline — Glass doors on the top floor lead to a balcony

The top floor encompasses a kitchen, dining area, living room and media room. Glazed doors provide access to a balcony and a pool terrace.

The pool is lined with a “vertical garden” filled with drought-tolerant plants, including hardy geraniums, creeping Jenny and blue chalksticks.

Open-plan kitchen and dining room with large windows looking onto an outdoor swimming pool — Cedar covers the ceilings while oak lines the floors

“To maintain the living wall, the gardener is suspended over the adjacent pool on a rolling platform, which is stored on-site,” the team said.

Throughout the home, the team used earthy finishes such as cedar ceilings and white oak flooring and millwork.

Exterior of a multi-storey home in California by Montalba Archietcts — The home was designed for a couple living in Manhattan Beach

The kitchen is fitted with oak cabinetry and Caesarstone countertops, and the fireplace surround is made of silver travertine.

Other recent projects by Montalba Architects include the renovation of a 1960s Los Angeles building by Edward Durrell Stone and the completion of a hillside home in Santa Monica that features ample glazing and a clever siting strategy.

The photography is by Kevin Scott.

Project credits:

Architect: Montalba Architects
Landcape design: Pamela Burton
Living wall: Habitat Horticulture

Reference

Interior Design

YSG draws on beach clubs of Ibiza for redesign of Sydney coastal home

By Zarkon Group,14/06/2023

Australian interiors studio YSG has updated a holiday home in Sydney’s Palm Beach suburb, layering it with a maximalist mix of colours, patterns and textures.

The 400-square-metre house belongs to a young family who wanted a place to escape during the holidays while still providing space for remote working.

Exterior of Palm Beach house — YSG renovated a holiday home in Sydney’s Palm Beach

The home’s original furnishings were included in the sale but the clients were less than enthused by the nautical colour palette, seashells and model yachts.

“The weathered features and cliched seaside tropes, amongst other things, deterred their visits,” said Yasmine Ghoniem, founder and director of YSG.

Look from patio into Sydney home by YSG — Its living and dining area are separated by a small step

YSG took cues from the rustic beach clubs of Ibiza and Cancun for the revamp, with a touch of French Riviera refinement to create “a palpably playful mood for entertaining”.

The house was given a full overhaul, with worn floorboards sanded back to reveal warmer timber accents while windows and doors were replaced with more slimline versions.

Living room with painting in Palm Beach house — Details from a painting in the lounge were carried over onto the walls

In the sunroom, tongue-and-groove panelling was removed for a more contemporary look while a mirrored wall was taken out because it caused the room to overheat.

A new rose-tinted marble floor extends to skirting height, amplifying the sense of space while helping to keep the room cool. In the kitchen, YSG added a stone island “that recalls the ombre shades of a freshly poured tequila sunrise”.

Seating area next to pool in Sydney house by YSG — Chequerboard tiles surround the pool

The couple also asked for a second master suite, so that they could each have their own retreat while working remotely.

“We designed integrated marble and timber desks, enabling both to simultaneously work privately from their rooms whilst enjoying views from the upper level,” Ghoniem said.

For the all-important exterior areas, which wrap around the house on each level, YSG provided a material refresh by removing the old heavy paving and weathered grey timber as they distracted from the views.

The pool area now features a chequerboard pattern of tumbled marble cobblestones while the dark blue pool tiles were replaced with a lighter finish and the chrome fence posts were powder-coated in a soft white tone to prevent glaring reflections.

Kitchen of Palm Beach house — The home’s stone kitchen island is made from thickly veined stone

YSG added a playful painting in the living room that acted as a starting point for the home’s entire interior scheme, including the colour palette of ochres, yellows, and reds.

Its motifs such as palm trees and fruit are repeated throughout the house across prints and cushions, as well as being hand-painted onto walls and doors.

Living room of Sydney house by YSG — The home also has a second lounge area

Even the painting’s chequered top border is continued as a hand-painted datum line across the living room to enliven the otherwise plain walls.

Ghoniem also repeated the same device on the side of the raised step that lead to the dining area, “artistically acknowledging a trip hazard”.

Bedroom of Palm Beach house — The bedrooms were designed to provide space for remote working

In the sunroom, hand-painted swirls soften the beams while in one of the master bedrooms, the vertical red lines of a nude painting were playfully continued onto the wall above the artwork.

The rich material palette features many types of marble, including Giallo, Toledo and Tiberio along with honed travertine and French wash walls, while the textiles include linen and kimono silk.

Bathroom of Palm Beach house in Sydney — Chequerboard tiling also features in some of the bathrooms

YSG has completed a number of projects across Sydney, including another house in a coastal suburb with tactile finishes and a penthouse for a couple of empty nesters.

The photography is by Prue Ruscoe.

Reference

Architecture

The Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center

By Zarkon Group,25/04/2022

Have your say in which architects will take home Architizer’s prestigious A+Awards: Public Voting opens this spring. Interested in next year’s program? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

As architecture firms across the United States join the AIA’s 2030 Commitment and integrate more sustainable practices into their work, effectively communicating the energy benefits of any given project during and after the design process is an ever-present challenge. Following a project’s completion, a plaque denoting an energy certification such as LEED may be installed on the building if it has achieved this accreditation, however, this doesn’t do much to educate the average person about what design elements actually contribute to this building’s energy efficiency. The way in which buildings, their systems and the environment interact is a complex equation that culminates in a calculated Energy Use Index (EUI) for any given project, which can vary over the course of its lifespan.

According to the International Energy Agency, architecture and its associated construction industry are responsible for approximately one third of total global energy consumption and nearly 15% of direct CO2 emissions, with energy demand from buildings continuing to rise. It is therefore imperative for new projects to not only aim for carbon neutrality and net zero status, but to also educate their inhabitants more globally about the impact of sustainability on the built environment.

With this in mind, in 2020 nARCHITECTS completed a pioneering facility that effectively visualizes how energy consumption shapes both architectural form and the natural environment. The project originally materialized when the New York State Parks Department asked nARCHITECTS to turn their attention towards a minor, ongoing renovation of a nature center at Jones Beach, that was in the planning stages at the time. The project’s ambition continued to grow as it developed, and the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center eventually came to encompass an energy education center, a series of support offices, classrooms and a continuous sequence of exhibition spaces.

The final budget, including the landscape and exhibitions, was roughly $30 million. Slightly under half of that total sum was contributed by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), which makes annual contributions and has partial curatorial oversight of the gallery spaces. This investment arrived on the heels of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, as New York State began to pursue an aggressive clean energy plan through capital investments, systemic changes and collaborations between policymakers, energy producers and the public.

As a net-zero targeted building that permanently monitors and displays its own energy performance, the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center is a true model for all projects that seek to enlighten visitors about their own carbon footprint and the ways that we can all become more conscientious environmental agents. The building has a thin, linear footprint that is born from the location of existing foundations and a concrete sub-surface belonging to a boathouse that formerly occupied the site.

At 320 feet in length, this single-story structure treads lightly on the site and functions as a gateway to the beautiful natural environment of Jones Beach. The building has a simple form, with a series of Northeastern-oriented sloped roofs and clerestory windows punctuating the long elevation to create the sensation of a set of rolling waves moving toward the shore. A cedar-clad canopy wraps the building on all sides, creating a continuous shaded porch that results in a continuously shifting pattern of shadows.

Inside, the gallery spaces feature plentiful glazing, creating a bright environment that consistently makes visual connections to the surrounding environment; a far cry from the typical white box gallery environment, completely divorced from its context. The Lobby and South Gallery explore the history of Long Island’s energy network, while the East Gallery investigates “The Power of Nature” through exhibits on the surrounding ecosystem, landscape conservation and habitat restoration. The West Gallery focuses on “The Nature of Energy,” through exhibits on natural energy sources, energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy technologies, embodied energy, and the impact of extreme weather on our power grid.

Geothermal wells provide heating and cooling throughout the interior, while 260 photovoltaic panels provide enough energy to allow the building to operate off-grid for 6 hours. The Nature Center is educational for visitors in both its overall form and exhibition content, as it successfully outlines the role of energy in New Yorker’s lives and how thoughtful, site responsive architecture can minimize our impact on the environment.

What better place than Jones Beach to juxtapose the relationship between our built and natural environments. Structures like this one are a critical part of addressing the climate crisis, meeting sustainability goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities, as we move towards a less destructive future.

Reference

Interior Design

Daytrip channels Margate beach in revamped Turner Contemporary store

By Zarkon Group,06/07/2021

Design studio Daytrip looked to Margate’s dramatic beach landscape when designing this shop for the Turner Contemporary gallery, which sits perched on the town’s seafront.

The David Chipperfield-designed gallery, distinguished by its opaque glass shell and expansive ocean views, recently reopened after a renovation project that included the shop along with a new cafe and common areas.

Store with panoramic view of ocean and vases on display shelves in interior designed by Daytrip — The revamped Turner Contemporary store looks out over Margate beach (top and above)

Located in the lobby, the shop’s existing retail shell was designed to be highly flexible and to reflect the building’s gallery spaces, with poured screed flooring, linear glazing and a prominent ribbed concrete ceiling.

Daytrip designed a new fit-out for the store that reflects both the building’s architecture and the lifelong admiration that the gallery’s namesake, landscape painter JMW Turner, held for Margate and its surrounding landscape in southern England.

Interior of Turner Contemporary — Pigment-dyed timber panels were inspired by Margate beach

“As we began putting materials together for the scheme, we wanted to capture the light and patterning of the beach,” Daytrip studio co-founder Iwan Halstead told Dezeen.

“Margate beach and its seafront changes dramatically from season to season. As the tide pushes out, the beaches transform into radical landscapes of striation and patterning,” he added.

“On a sunny day, the rippled beaches are captured with shadows and glistening pools of water. We also noticed the effect of the salt spray and rainwater on the metal architectural elements – a dappled weathering effect that adds natural patina and cloudy lustre to the exterior.”

Magazine display and low tables with vases in Turner Contemporary Store — Display stands are backed with clear, textured fibreglass

This natural texture is referenced in the mottled grey veneer panels that line a portion of the walls.

Their unique, painterly pattern was created using a method developed by Berlin studio Llot llov, which involves covering pigment-dyed timber with salt crystals that absorb a portion of the colour.

“It felt naturally appropriate and subtle enough to line the display wall of the gallery and a number of the tables’ surfaces,” said Halstead.

“We paired this with textured cathedral glass shelving, chosen for its fluid, water-like appearance that allows light to transfer dappled shadowing on the veneered surfaces and the existing Chipperfield concrete floor.”

Overview of shop interior by Daytrip with simple grey display tables — All of the elements in the store can be moved to make space for events

A vertical shelving system, which showcases artworks, prints and posters, is backed with a translucent layer of fibreglass.

“Its inherent gossamer nature when illuminated by the sunlight creates beautiful patterning and highlights its fibrous textures – cloudy and ethereal – like many of JMW Turner’s artworks,” Halstead explained.

The store’s furniture was constructed from “humble” materials such as grey Valchromat – a wood fibreboard that is treated with several coats of lacquer to create a high, reflective sheen. This is paired with matt, white-oiled oak, which the studio chose for its sandy hue.

Fibreglass-backed shelf displaying artwork in Turner Contemporary Store — Rippled glass shelves reflect the light streaming in through the panoramic windows

Daytrip’s renovation also includes the creation of a merchandising system based on the approach of a magazine editorial.

The display tables and plinths can be organised into formations that create narratives with and around the products, linking back to Margate’s wider creative community and its makers.

Shop interior by Daytrip with low display tables and a row of shelves — The building’s ribbed concrete ceiling is left exposed

The display system also includes a workbench that is used for group discussions and workshops and invites visitors to congregate. All of the fixtures can be moved to accommodate large-scale events and talks.

Previously, Daytrip has created an eclectic office for a media company in London’s Clerkenwell and renovated a five-storey townhouse in Clapton.

Photography is by Ståle Eriksen.

Reference

Beach

Stanaćev Granados divides levels of beach house with cargo net floor

Montalba Architects prioritises nature at Manhattan Beach House

YSG draws on beach clubs of Ibiza for redesign of Sydney coastal home

The Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center

Daytrip channels Margate beach in revamped Turner Contemporary store

Get in touch

about us

Company info

Useful Links

Newsletter