Beauty And The Beach

Who needs a room with a view when you can have a whole backyard drenched in vistas?

- Emily Belling

Perched above Newport Beach on Sydney’s spectacular Northern Beaches, LA Cool is an outdoor living space that caters to multiple family generations all year round. This outdoor extension by Carter Williamson Architects utilizes the previously overgrown and unused backyard to stunning effect.

“There was a small grass lawn leading to steep, inaccessible, overgrown vegetation at the rear of the house,” explains Shaun Carter, who designed and executed this home’s impressive transformation. “Only one-third of the yard was usable.”

A cantilevered construction was designed to combat the inhibitive slope of the site. Jutting out over lush planting, this platform provides strong structural support while drawing inspiration from midcentury architecture.

The space-efficient living area delivers maximum amenity from the site, which suits the homeowners perfectly. Their ultimate vision was for a home that could accommodate their growing family whatever the season. To achieve this, cozy furnishings, a fireplace, and a pizza oven are cleverly designed within the pavilion area to cocoon warm air during winter months, ensuring the area isn’t relegated to summer use only. At the same time, the design allows cool breezes to permeate through summer, providing the homeowners with a spot for gracious living throughout the year — be it for dining, entertaining or simply relaxing in all kinds of weather.