12 August 2022
Pittwater’s peninsula, from Mona Vale to Palm Beach is abounding with beautiful homes, and as a local agent, it is a privilege to sell houses that reflect and express our unique and flourishing environment.
With its picturesque coastline and panoramic views, the Northern Beaches provides the perfect opportunity for architects to utilise their talents and create world-class residential properties.
There are an abundance of homeowners in Avalon and Palm Beach looking at renovating or rebuilding so I thought it would be interesting to chat with two inspiring local architects about homes they have brought to life on the Northern Beaches.
Matt Power of Sketch Arc
Hi Matt, can you tell us about a favourite project you’ve worked on in the Northern Beaches?
I have many! A recent project we finished, the Clareville Beach House on Delecta Avenue was a real highlight to work on as it sits on such a unique site, right on Clareville Beach. The structure is very minimalistic, with modern straight lines, a seemingly simple aesthetic but a challenge to achieve. We were able to deliver such a great outcome for the client due to the collaboration with the builders, who had a significant impact on the process.
Another project I really loved working on was a family home in Avalon Beach called Avalon Springs. It’s a very different style to the Clareville house, with a familiar Northern Beaches feel, a practical and coastal family home, with pool, outdoor entertaining and tropical gardens.
Who would your typical client be?
A typical client would be a Northern Beaches family who wants to live in a beautifully designed home that is also practical. My clients vary, and I like to work with an array of styles to achieve the client’s desired outcome. I take their brief, carefully consider their likes, needs and wants and then design around that.
If someone on the Northern Beaches is looking for an architect, why call you?
I’m approachable, experienced (especially with difficult sites), pragmatic and design aware. I have a history with this area and I’m someonewho will work with the client on their brief and not push a certain agenda.
Michael Kilkeary of Cadence & Co.
Hi Michael, tell us about a favourite project you’ve worked on in Palm Beach?
Yes, recently we completed two projects which sit side-by-side at Palm Beach on the exclusive Ocean Road enclave; Northern Aspect and The Gallery. Both were fantastic to work on as the aspect they enjoy is unbeatable, facing directly north with panoramic views of Palm Beach’s peninsula.
They were both great opportunities to have some fun… being big houses in an iconic location on Palm Beach, we spent a lot of time carefully thinking through the materials, the palette and the landscaping, as we wanted to settle them into the natural geography. We chose to use earthy elements such as stone, timber and cedars with the idea being that they would age well amongst the oceanfront weather and exposure. We focused a lot of energy on the substantial landscaping to soften the grand building structures.
As far as style goes, the two houses are quite different. We wanted them both to have their own identity and were also responding to each client individually. Northern Aspect has textured elements and a more weathered beach palette. For The Gallery we pulled back on the weathered look and made it a little more render-bare.
Who would your typical client be?
We have a broad range of clients with design and build projects spanning from large scale luxury builds, to family homes and garden studios. Because of the diversity of our projects, we work hand in hand with each client to understand exactly what they want, carefully tailoring all the fundamental elements together to create a unique end result. One example is a house we are working on in Palm Beach which sits on the ridge enjoying views from Whale Beach to Palm Beach and has a Spanish-deco style, which is really fun to work with!
If someone on the Northern Beaches is looking for an architect, why call Cadence & Co.?
What Cadence & Co. have to offer is a holistic process, from design to construction. We differ from traditional design and construct models in that our design is a bespoke personalised offering. Our clients have the advantage of our design and construction teams working alongside each other to provide a start to finish service, we make the process seamless all the way through from our design team taking care of approvals, to our construction team doing the build. We also have an in-house interior design team ensure the quality of interior and finish works with the architecture.
Another critical component of our business model is to keep the client, the build and the budget aligned through the entire process – this is crucial for seeing a project through to completion! The way we do this is through our cost estimating team who give continual cost guidance to clients, so when their approvals are granted they can start the build with comfort, that their budget will finish the project.
Finding the right architect can add value to your property and attract more buyers. Here is a list of local architects you may want to consider.
- Laura Cook (I recently interviewed Laura, learn more here)
- Rachel Hudson
- Peter Stutchbury
- Andy Lehman
- Timothy West – THW
- Richard Cole
- Linda & Matt Markham-Lee
- Thomas Martin – Rama
- Mark Hurcum – MHDP
- Mark Cashman – MCK
People often ask me whether they should or shouldn’t renovate for resale value. If that’s you, and you would like some advice around your property’s current and potential future value, I would welcome an opportunity to discuss your situation and be of further help, you can contact me on 0424 053 355 or on email.
If you’d like to track the value of your home, compare recent sales and find out how much your property is worth in the current market, you can get your free estimate here.
