Sand Vault
Sand Vault House
The Sand Vault House, Torquay, 2016
The Sand Vault House is a sculpted coastal home designed for a family deeply connected to the ocean. Sited on a generous 6000 sqm lot in Torquay, the dwelling is a celebration of indoor-outdoor living — fostering family life, social gatherings, and a rich sensory relationship with the land. Its form was inspired by the angular fragmentation of summer beach sand crusts, shaped by moisture and salt — a playful yet deeply personal metaphor that grounds the house in its coastal context.
From the moment of entry, the house unfolds around water and light. A series of triangular skylights punctures the ceiling, casting dynamic patterns into the space and echoing the natural erosion of sand layers. These facets direct light down into the heart of the home — the pool, which reveals itself immediately beyond the threshold.
The Dining and Kitchen zone is flanked by a faceted ceiling that folds toward the water, collapsing the interior into the landscape and creating a strong foreground connection to the pool. The generous lot size of over 6000sqm provided much opportunity for the design.
The clients requested that the main living areas and sleeping quarters be located on the same level, which we encouraged to provide the residence with a strong connection to the site. The natural contour gently slopes toward the East and has been utilized to anchor the basement into the site, encompassing a triple Garage, Cellar, Store and Plant Room. The upper level includes 4 Bedrooms, Living/Lounge, Dining, Kitchen, Rumpus, Cinema Room, Wet Area/Utility spaces, Pool/Spa and ample decking.
The planning stretches along an East–West axis, allowing the primary living spaces and bedrooms to remain on a single level and maintain a continuous relationship with the site. Gently sloping contours to the East have been used to anchor a discreet basement — housing a garage, cellar, storage, and services — while maintaining a low profile from the main approach. The upper level encompasses four bedrooms, multiple living spaces, a cinema room, utility zones, and extensive decking, enabling layered transitions between indoors and out.
Material choices reinforce the tactile quality of the concept. Feature-grade Yellow Stringybark timber is used throughout the flooring and decking, imbuing the home with a sand-like warmth. Subtle ceiling folds and wall shifts throughout the plan allow natural light to filter into unexpected places — including the master ensuite, where a southern light scoop brings softness and serenity.
Passive design principles underpin the project. The long orientation allows controlled solar access across the living zones, while eaves, strategic glazing, and natural cross-ventilation contribute to the home's year-round comfort. A screened indoor-outdoor shower extends the experience of bathing into the landscape, while a water tank and on-site wastewater treatment system support sustainable resource use.
The Sand Vault House is both robust and refined — a home that physically and poetically connects a family to the coast they love, and to each other.
