Prescott Beach Houses

THE BRIEF:
A custom-designed coastal retreat created for two families seeking a relaxed, low-maintenance escape from their busy city lives. The design balances practical durability with refined architectural detailing, prioritising materials and construction methods that can withstand the rigours of the coastal environment while maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic.

BUILDING DETAILS:
The original beach house was demolished to make way for two thoughtfully designed townhouses, each featuring three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a study. Timber was used in place of steel for the structural beams — a deliberate decision to simplify maintenance and improve long-term performance in a corrosive coastal setting. Materials were selected for their resilience and low-maintenance qualities, including black Victorian ash cladding, corten steel, and durable internal finishes, creating a robust and timeless architectural outcome.

THE CHALLENGES WE FACED:
Corten cladding is a metal cladding designed to form a stable layer of rust that prevents further corrosion. Bleaching from the rust can impact adjoining materials. We needed to consider the other materials that would adjoin the corten, so we created a physical barrier.

The specification included corten sheets for some internal walls, which presented a challenge as sheets installed indoors wouldn’t naturally rust to develop the desired patina. To address this, we pre-rusted the sheets on-site, and through close collaboration with the architect, achieved the intended rusted finish.

RESULT:
Receiving the 2019 Building Designers Association of Australia Victoria Architecture Award for Residential Architecture, Prescott Beach Houses is a testament to the allure of highly detailed finishes —black Victorian ash cladding complemented by weathered steel offers an industrial-modern aesthetic that harmoniously blends in with the surrounding environment.