Rock Star
OWNER BUILDER Carley Jane • ARCHITECT Seamus Ryan • IMAGERY Jody D’Arcy • STORY Elizabeth Clarke
The world of contemporary architecture is not always regarded as a colourful one, yet its texture, form, and sheer presence more than make up for vibrant splashes of pigment.
Case in point, Concrete House in City Beach. Constructed entirely of off-form concrete, it blends sustainable design techniques with austere lines and monochrome tones. Its linear form and long planar geometries reflect the home's panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.
"We drew inspiration from the owner's brief and a shared interest in concrete and pushing its boundaries," says its architect Seamus Ryan.
For Carley Jane, concrete was the only option for their family home. "My husband wanted a concrete house, and in the process, I fell in love with it too," she says. "The internal walls, floors and external fascias are in concrete as well as a stunning curved wall at the front of the house. The team kept asking me if I wanted it all rendered, but I didn't – I wanted that strong, raw, brutalist look."
Concrete can be formed, sculpted, cut, textured, patterned, and expressed in various forms. "It's an incredible material, but it's risky," Seamus says. "Once you pour, it's poured, so you need a great team behind you to get the preparation and formwork right. It's incredibly labour intensive, and many variables can go wrong."
The biggest challenge, however, was the size of the sheer, split-level block. "We had to work on all adjoining levels and carry them through to seven adjoining neighbours," he says. "It was an incredible engineering process to make it happen as well as carry it into the architecture."
Passive house principles in its construction have created high-performance thermal walls, floors, and roof. Along with triple glazed European windows, the home enjoys year-round thermal performance and comfort.
"The house manages its temperature itself," Carley says. "In winter, there are no air drafts or need for underfloor heating. In summer, a weather station up top automatically opens the top windows to the west. We enjoy constant temperatures making it an incredibly liveable home."
The sites' topography and views influenced the home's spatial planning. A vast basement houses a gym, a fully-contained au pair studio, and a multi-purpose garage leading to a theatre, bar, and cellar store. A large window peers into the family's swimming pool above.
Upstairs, an expansive open plan living space is brought alive by the rich quality of natural light. The kitchen features matte black engineered cabinetry and rich porcelain benchtops that flow through to adjoining areas.
Above the dining table, a curvy ceiling opening with timber battens holds a series of undulating star-like glass pendants. A large rug anchors soft, cosy seating in the lounge room, and a floating curved concrete bench contains the fireplace. Sheer flowing curtains hang from a timber rail that tracks the entire space, softening its lines and filtering natural light.
A vast alfresco area is accessed through large glass sliders that move in different ways allowing various connections inside to out. An outdoor kitchen includes a curved concrete bar, pizza oven, BBQ, and cleverly concealed storage space. A large living zone and day bed crafted from black glazed concrete provide places to unwind.
The family's private quarters are above and boast breathtaking views and thoughtful detailing, like white concrete imprinted with wood texture. Against its concrete backdrop, upholstery introduces key colour notes such as blush, mustard, blue and tan.
Throughout, the masterful use of concrete is lifted by other robust materials like natural stone, charred timber, oak batten ceilings, dark tiles and a handcrafted stone wall. Crisp white ceilings with raised timber batten sections form its perimeter, enticing the eye out to garden and ocean views. A brass handrail with a rustic patina accompanies a stunning oak staircase with a handcrafted shadow line. "I like to keep things raw and simple," says Carley. "Never polished or refined."
The home is a unique composition that offers warmth, flexibility, and comfort despite its austere materiality. "The preparation that went into creating the forms and the geometry of the build is breathtaking," says Seamus. "The home is testament to the team that created it."