Q House, Jervis Bay, NSW

BACKGROUND

Nestled on Jervis Bay’s foreshore, the solid geometry of Q House reads as a compelling architectural commentary on its dramatic context.

Designed by Robertson Collectif as a curated escape from bustling city life for a young Sydney family, the dwelling settles into its rugged locale, engaging with the spectacular landscape with ease and precision, while setting an intimate stage for familial interactions.

The architect’s deliberate decision to arrange the building envelope across three split-level plates yields an internal cadence designed to mirror the experience of walking up and over sand dunes.

Starting at the street-level entry, the intuitive layout encourages a gentle transition through the seclusion of private realms towards an expansive entertaining zone that spills out towards the embrace of the ocean, masterfully balancing the architecture of retreat with indoor-outdoor immersion.

CHALLENGE

To articulate this duality through a structure that could offer refuge from coastal volatility, only to unfurl to its context when the weather improves, the design required a combination of reassuring forms, and resilient materiality engineered to withstand the harsh marine elements.

Oversized glazing became vital to establishing a grounding connection with the residence’s oceanside surrounds. The openings had to be robust enough to endure intense wind loads and corrosive salt spray, while maintaining a sophisticated design language that reflected the home’s minimalist aesthetic and quietly dissolved the boundary between the indoor and outdoor realms. The desired oversized glazing needed to meticulously balance the thermal performance required to meet 7-star energy efficiency requirements.

SOLUTION

Balancing these demands led Robertson Collectif and Saltbox Building Co to a trusted combination – high-performance aluminium window and door systems from Architectural Window Systems (AWS), expertly fabricated and supplied by Hanlon Windows. The builder’s long-standing relationship with Hanlon Windows, combined with the inherent strength and versatility of AWS systems, was instrumental in delivering a structure that perfectly balances resilience with openness and thermal efficiency.

The solution was a comprehensive suite of AWS products, each chosen for its specific performance capabilities. In the main living and entertaining areas, the AWS Series 704FBR SlideMASTER™

Sliding Door System emerged as a defining visual gesture. These expansive doors create vast, unobstructed openings that frame the ocean. The panels can be fully recessed, converging the two realms into a seamless indoor-outdoor continuum and inviting the breeze to permeate the dwelling. When closed, their minimalist contour elegantly delineates the home’s boundary, while their superior engineering provides a seal, fostering a sense of comfort against harsh coastal elements.

To address the project’s energy efficiency requirements, a combination of AWS Series 400 Single Glazed CentreGLAZE™ and AWS Series 624 Double Glazed CentreGLAZE™ systems was also strategically integrated throughout the house. This considered application enables optimal thermal performance and utmost comfort throughout the year, while meeting the project’s compliance demands. Lastly, the AWS Series 549 Residential Hinged Entry Door punctuates the entrance as an aesthetically cohesive threshold, reinforcing the home’s duality as both an open sanctuary and a private retreat.

To complement the resilient palette of Australian hardwood, copper and concrete masonry, the aluminium frames were coated in a premium Black Anodised 25-micron (µm) finish, engineered to provide resistance to corrosion and fading from exposure to salty air and UV radiation. The durable finish ensures longevity and minimal maintenance, enabling the dark geometry of the frames to retain their defined expression despite the residence’s coastal location.

Imbued with the ability to shift from an open- air pavilion to a soothing shelter, the dwelling deceptively dissolves the distinction between interior and exterior.By consolidating this connection with a sense of respite, Q House doesn’t just immerse residents in the quintessential beauty of Jervis Bay structure sets a standard for the architecture of coastal retreats.