Perched atop the soaring cliffs of Sydney’s Northern Beaches on the traditional lands of the Garigal people, Shaun Lockyer Architects delivers a layered residence that exemplifies site-responsive, refined coastal modernism.
Conceived as a permanent retreat for long-time holiday-goers, the home transforms its sun-drenched context into an enduring architectural gesture.
Photography above by Derek Swalwell.
The design responds to a challenging dual‑fronted, steep site, unfolding across four distinct levels.
A formal street‑level entry contrasts with a more relaxed, beach‑side arrival—offering layered circulation and spatial privacy.
Internally, the home is divided to support dual modes of living: the upper levels house the principal couple in everyday comfort, while independently accessed accommodation on the lower level offers refuge for adult children. This dynamic layout allows for generational shifts without sacrificing intimacy.
At its core lies a minimalist material palette—off‑form concrete, weathered timber, and natural stone.
Tactile and unembellished, these materials draw resonance from the bleached coastal sands and local building vernacular.
Light is skillfully choreographed: skylights puncture the roof plane, sunken courtyards tease sightlines inward, and elevated garden terraces weave greenery into the architectural narrative.
Whale Beach exemplifies Shaun Lockyer’s subtropical modernist vision—where rigorous detail and biophilic principles converge to create a space both pragmatic and poetic.
Signature features include an elevated lap pool, a cavernous sunken courtyard, bespoke timber joinery, and planting by Dangar Barin Smith—all meticulously designed to amplify the sensory qualities of place.
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Integration with the natural environment is a central tenet of the project, with soft edges blurring the built form and nature-centric design principles weaving planting into every aspect of the home.
Designed by Dangar Barin Smith and installed by Robert Plumb Landscape, the predominantly native greenery grounds the house within its setting, while courtyard and rooftop gardens soften hard architectural edges and create moments of connection.
Built in collaboration with County Constructions and engineered by Westera Partners, the project is as much an expression of lasting professional relationships as it is a response to an extraordinary site.
The project team—Shaun Lockyer, Michael Ford, Adam Laming, and Kevin Li—have distilled the essence of Australian coastal living into a residence that balances restraint and richness, relationship and retreat.
Shaun Lockyer Architects is a Brisbane-based architecture studio renowned for its rigorous yet poetic approach to contemporary residential design.
Founded in 2009 by Shaun Lockyer, the practice is celebrated for its commitment to subtropical modernism, material honesty, and deep site responsiveness.
With a portfolio spanning regional, coastal, and urban contexts, the studio blends architectural precision with a rich understanding of place—crafting homes that are both grounded in landscape and elevated in experience.
Each project reflects a refined sensibility, balancing permanence, light, and natural texture to create spaces of lasting connection.
Architecture by: Shaun Lockyer Architects
Builder: County Constructions
Landscape Architecture by: Dangar Barin Smith
Landscape Installation by: Robert Plumb Landscape
Engineer: Westera Partners
Photography by: Derek Swalwell
