With a singular design by James Grose and views of Honeymoon Bay and the Pacific Ocean, it’s clear why alinghi was voted one of the top five beach houses in the world. (Forbes Global Properties)
The Australian beach house that disappears into the landscape
With a singular design by James Grose and views of Honeymoon Bay and the Pacific Ocean, it’s clear why alinghi was voted one of the top five beach houses in the world. (Forbes Global Properties) There’s local, then there’s local. When former Australian Rules Football star Jeff Chapman needed an architect to design a beach house at Honeymoon Bay in Queensland, he tapped James Grose of BVN Architecture, a Queenslander himself, for his deep knowledge of the land, the history and the people of the place. What Chapman didn’t know was that the commission would trigger a full-circle moment for Grose.
Covered terrace with ocean views in Honeymoon Bay, Queensland, Australia Grose intentionally selected materials that would fade to a silver gray over time, essentially disappearing into landscape. (Forbes Global Properties)
Turn the clock back 30 years and Grose is a young teen in a friend’s car – Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” blasting the stereo down the dirt roads to the surf at Honeymoon Bay. And exactly on the spot where they pitched their tent is where Jeff Chapman’s beach house now stands. “Extraordinary to connect that circle,” says Grose.
The turnkey beachfront residence named alinghi is on the market for AUD $8 million (US $5.3 million). You could buy a lot of tents for that.
Natural harmony
Beyond serendipity, the land here directly influenced Grose’s design of the 2,000 sqm (21,527 sqft) property. “The house responds to the Australian bush that surrounds it,” he says. “It takes its lead from the natural environment.”
Construction materials were selected to meld into the surroundings. Timber integrates with the bushland, a masonry stone and concrete cantilevered walkway pays homage to the rockiness of the Rocky Point neighborhood. The western red cedar offers protection from the beaming Australian sun. In the evening, carefully chosen low-voltage exterior lighting brings the human inhabitants subtle aesthetics while keeping life calm for dozing wildlife. The home virtually disappears into the cliffside.
A clever design allows for cross-ventilation, enabling cool ocean breezes to flow freely. (Forbes Global Properties)
Sustainable sensibilities
In addition to natural materials, the home features a self-sufficient water system. Grose’s design lets cool breezes circulate the interior spaces as natural ventilation. Indoor-outdoor living comes through the sliding floor-to-ceiling windows fronting ocean views. The residence resembles and embodies the rich natural beauty of Australia.
On a clear day, the home provides a front-row view of the humpback whale migration path across the Pacific Ocean. A wild goanna lizard inhabits the outdoor stairs, while wallabies skip around the landscape. Nesting turtles scuttle against a backdrop of endless crashing waves.
Bedroom with large retractable wall of glass with ocean views, the estate’s two-building structure allows for the primary suite to be set apart. The result is an utterly private stylish retreat.
Stripped-back interior architecture pulls the gaze outward to the natural world. (Forbes Global Properties)
Invisible thread
Anchored onto a cliffside on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, the property is one of six designer estates on Rocky Point. All share the private beach at Honeymoon Bay, plus a 30m (98 foot) saltwater pool by the ocean, cabana area with barbecue for entertaining, and a tennis court. A full-time on-site property manager oversees the everyday – peace of mind is ever present.
Bedroom with large retractable wall of glass with ocean views. The estate’s two-building structure allows for the primary suite to be set apart. The result is an utterly private stylish retreat. (Forbes Global Properties)
Each original owner developed their own home according to their preferences. But an invisible thread ties them all together. “Nature is a component in everyone’s design,” says Forbes Global Properties agent Deborah Cullen. “Everything is hidden amongst the trees. No one has gone for an obtrusive mansion – that’s not what this estate was ever about. The idea was always to build around nature and become part of it.” This is the first time one of the estate homes has hit the market for resale.
Travertine platform with lounging chairs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Levitation is something of a motif. Generous slabs of travertine run throughout the estate’s outdoor spaces, appearing to float thanks to shallow reflection pools accents. (Forbes Global Properties)
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