The small village of Woolgoolga, otherwise known as “Woopi,” lies 30 minutes north of Coffs Harbour, along the scenic coastline of New South Wales in Australia. The nearest city is four hours away, and the rural region’s mild climate and sandy beaches have lured vacationers for years.

John and Ingrid Rorke are both 76, and they spent holidays in Woopi with their extended family from Queensland for several years before they found a block of land that felt like home. Located in the Woolgoolga headlands, the north-facing plot is protected from prevailing winds and offers uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean.

From the beginning, the couple envisioned a “timeless, hardwearing beach house” for their multigenerational family. In 2018, they solicited the help of Mathieu Levesque and Julie Derrick of Levesque & Derrick Architects (LADA) to bring their vision to life.

Before building in Woopi, the Rorkes maintained a residence in Peregian on the Sunshine Coast, near the holiday house of the late architect Geoffrey Pie. That award-winning property was a great source of inspiration for the couple as they planned their future home.

Borrowing aspects from Pie’s residence, they imagined a space with one main level, a large living area, and a deck that would provide both sun and shade. They also wanted the home to have a striking architectural presence, and to be made of simple, honest materials that would stand the test of time.

The resulting U-shaped dwelling has a sheltered central courtyard and a private outdoor shower for desanding after long days at the beach. The front pavilion contains the kitchen, dining, and living areas, while the bedrooms and bathrooms are located to the side and rear of the home. John and Ingrid have two adult children and four grandchildren, so LADA created a bunk room for the kids that doubles as a living space.

Due to the corrosive sea breezes and the plot’s location within a bushfire zone, the team at LADA sought out a variety of high-durability, low-maintenance materials that would mature with age, like patinaed copper and locally sourced red mahogany that will silver with the passing years.

One of the most important and challenging spaces to design was the front deck. LADA used a timber screen and a concrete balustrade to frame the panorama while cropping out the road in front of the property, and the neighboring house to the west.

Levesque and Derrick also thoughtfully considered the extent of the roof overhang to provide shade on the balustrade and sun on the deck’s northeastern edge. “Structurally, we needed to get the balcony to cantilever in order to increase the distance between the vegetation on the headland across the street and the support structure for the house,” say the architects, adding that doing so reduced the home’s bushfire attack level (BAL) requirements.

LADA also harnessed the site’s northern orientation and proximity to the ocean to achieve passive cooling and natural ventilation. The central courtyard aids in this effort, promoting cross breezes in warmer months and offering a protected living space in colder ones. Passive heating is provided by the blockwork and concrete slabs that warm up during the day and gradually release heat into the evening.

Today, John and Ingrid’s favorite room is the living area, with its showstopping views of the ever-changing ocean. Almost every room has a view of the water, though. “The view is what gives the home its serenity,” says the architects. “Spending time in it is akin to being on a boat and feeling all the changes in the swell, tide, sun, and wind.”

Though the residence was initially conceived as a holiday house, John and Ingrid decided to live there full-time in 2020 after realizing it was the perfect place for them to enjoy their retirement. “After a year, we are still finding things to appreciate with the design,” say the couple.

Most of all, it’s the home’s sense of freedom, and its communion with the surrounding environs that lingers in memory. Kangaroos jump freely through the yards in town, and whale watching is one of many pleasures that local residents relish. “What gives us the most joy is the joy it brings the owners,” say the architects. “It’s wonderful to hear how much they love being in this home, and how they will never get sick of the well-framed views and the connection to the ocean.”

Related Reading:

A Circular Beach House in Australia Embraces Coastal Living

How This Australian Beach House Connects to the Coast Is on a Whole Other Level

This Beach House in Australia Is Nothing Like Its Neighbors—or Any Beach House You’ve Seen

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: LADA | Levesque & Derrick Architects / @lada.com.au

Builder/General Contractor: Robinson Building Pty Ltd

Structural Engineer: Milanovic Neale Consulting Engineers

Geotech Engineer & Structural Engineer Inspections: OWA / O'Meara Wood & Associates Pty Ltd

Town Planners: Keiley Hunter Town Planning

Hydraulics Engineering: Cushway Blackford & Associates

Land Surveyors: Newnham Karl Weir

Landscape Designer: Coffs Garden Support & David Newcombe Landscapes

Photographer: Andy MacPherson Studio / @andymacpherson.studio

Also Appears In

This Family Home in Australia Is a Love Letter to the Sea