The Annex

Outdoor covered decks and walkways link the three building pods, plywood timber panels form the exterior skin.

Project details

• Project Name: The Annex
• Location of Site: Byron Bay
• Design Team: Paul Uhlmann, David Currie, Jim Mullins

Hoop pine plywood is used for the exterior wall skin as well as cabinets and joinery.

Words from the architect

The client required a relaxed style of beach house to escape their busy city lifestyle. It had to provide shelter from the harsh coastal environment, but also take advantage of the site and its characteristics. Large sliding screens were required for security as well as to lock down the house while it is unoccupied.

Extensive glazing allows light and ventilation into the relatively small building pods. The use of timber gives the space warmth.

The local council required that the building be able to be towed away within twelve hours by four wheel drive if the beach erosion came within 50m of the site. Their requirements dictated a building form of three pods on a steel chassis which could be towed away. These pods were connected by a series of decks and fabric roofs which became outdoor living and transition spaces.

Fabric roofs on steel frames float above the structures while organic forms in the landscape recreate the natural environment.

The primary structure is a steel frame (chassis) with a conventional glazing system infill between the structure to give a gridded building facade. Within the system is a series of glass panels for light and ventilation and plywood sandwich panels with an exterior plywood skin and a decorative plywood interior skin, the pods are covered by a steel framed fabric roof to provide added shade and weather protection.

The window framing system with timber infill gives a gridded effect on the exterior walls.

Each pod has a distinct function with the northern pod housing the kitchen, living and dining spaces. The center pod contains the master bedroom and wet areas, while the southern pod contains 3 bedrooms. The main deck is situated between the northern and central pods and is the main outdoor living space. A deck off the northern pod views to the west over a tea stained creek.

Coastal landscaping species and white sand reinforce the beach location.

Extensive use of timber gives the building an unobtrusive feel. Fabric roofs allow the building pods to breath.

The warmth of the timber contrasts the steel, while fabric roof give a light and airy feel to the rooflines.

Credits

• Text: Paul Uhlmann Architects
• Photographs: David Sandison