Gully Beach House
Gully Beach
The Beach Gully House, Aireys Inlet, 2012 - 2014
Set within the shifting coastal vegetation of Aireys Inlet, Beach Gully House is a contemporary two-storey beach retreat shaped by its gently sloping site and expansive views to the Southern Ocean. The building emerges from the landscape as a quiet and evolving form — one that will weather and settle into its bushland setting over time. A restrained palette of natural materials, particularly the timber cladding, is intended to age gracefully, further integrating the home with its environment.
The composition of the building is carefully articulated to reduce its visual bulk. A lightweight open carport allows the upper volume to float above the ground, creating a sense of lightness and permeability.

Strategic glazing and perforated screening serve to both dissolve the built edges and frame moments of connection to the landscape beyond. Internally, the plan is oriented to take full advantage of long views to the south and southeast. Living areas and decks are located on the upper level to maximise the outlook and natural light, while morning and afternoon terraces provide sheltered outdoor space at different times of the day and year. A central east-facing deck creates a protected outdoor room — a place to capture the early sun and escape prevailing winds from the southwest.
Passive solar design principles underpin the spatial organisation. Deep eaves and a folded roofline shade openings to the west, mitigating harsh summer sun while allowing the lower-angle winter light to enter where needed. Windows have been carefully positioned under protective overhangs and fitted with screening to balance solar access and shading. Good cross ventilation is achieved throughout, with operable windows and doors located at opposite ends of key living spaces, reducing the need for artificial cooling. Inside, finishes are modest and tactile. Plywood linings and natural timbers bring warmth and texture to the interior, reinforcing the home’s connection to its coastal setting.

The building operates efficiently and simply, responding to its site with sensitivity and restraint.
Beach Gully House is designed as a living object in the landscape — one that shifts subtly with time, climate, and light, offering its occupants an ever-changing relationship with the coast.

