St Andrews Beach

A striking hempcrete home designed for a bushfire-prone coastal landscape, this project responds beautifully to its natural surroundings.

The brief was to create a home that is elegant and comfortable, with a low carbon footprint. Working closely with the clients, we co-developed the design to bring their vision to life.

Project type
Residential

Completion date
2024

Budget
1.6m

Project size
240m2

Design time
6 months

Construction time
15 months

Features.

The centrepiece of the home is its hempcrete cavity wall, which is a biocomposite, carbon-negative material made from hemp hurd, lime and water. Hempcrete offers thermal performance, breathability, and natural resistance to mould, pests and fire. Complementing this is solid timber cladding, simple geometric forms, and meticulous attention to detail.

The home integrates seamlessly with the coastal dune ecosystem, and is almost entirely off-grid, powered by solar PV and rainwater harvesting.

Process.

The client came with lots of ideas, and together we developed a detailed 3D model early in the design phase. This collaborative approach ensured a smooth, stress-free build. Set within a sandy dune environment, the home needed to be respectfully integrated into the land to minimise disruptions to the fragile ecosystem to ensure stability and longevity. Despite the complexity of compliance checks, the final inspection exceeded expectations.

Result.

The finished home is a harmonious blend of the natural and built environment. By creating a layout that responds to the landscape, each living space interacts uniquely with its surroundings. Interiors are clean, simple and refined, highlighting and complementing the stunning coastal environment beyond. Most importantly, the partnership was grounded in collaboration and trust, resulting in a hassle-free build and delighted clients very eager to move in.