Walsh-Wykes House

This stunning four-storey home overlooking Maroubra Beach was designed by Geoff Ferris-Smith, the registered architect at Jakaan Architects. This home was featured in Trends magazine and Complete Home magazine. For more details, check out the link at the bottom of the page.

This home is a showcase of passive cooling design, utilising a central basement and two courtyards to channel hot air away, creating a naturally cooler living environment. Designed to accommodate multi-generational living, the building is divided into two homes: one for a young family and the other for their parents, with a focus on both functionality and connection to the outdoors.

The central courtyard serves as the heart of the home, bringing in natural light and providing a seamless connection to outdoor spaces. This courtyard acts as a thermal funnel, allowing hot air to escape, while also passively heating the home during winter through the building’s thermal mass.

A 13-metre-long driveway made from recycled ironbark leads to a shared basement garage with Western Red Cedar batten doors, this was to emulate a boardwalk along the beach. All the timber, both internally and externally, was sustainably sourced and installed by Savcon Building, contributing to the home’s eco-conscious design.

Extensive frameless glass panels offer unobstructed views through the courtyards, and as the property is just 50 metres from the sea, the glazed areas were treated with Enduroshield to reduce salt build-up, minimising the need for cleaning while providing environmental benefits by reducing water and chemical use.

The central courtyard also features operable louvres and doors to maximise airflow, while the upper levels boast a walkway connecting the kitchen to the living spaces. A concealed staircase leads to a rooftop terrace, offering breathtaking 180-degree views of Maroubra Beach, further enhancing the home’s connection with its coastal environment.

This project demonstrates Jakaan Architects’ ability to create eco-friendly, sustainable homes that cater to the needs of multi-generational families, while maximising the stunning coastal views and natural cooling features.