Sunkissed Higgins

Sunkissed Higgins is sited on a irregular wedge shaped block across a public reserve in the surfing community of Middleton, South Australia. Our brief was to convert a small red brick home that was poorly sited into a family home. Our clients made the move to the small town to embrace everything they love about the beach: surfing, skate boarding, sun rises, sun sets, sun tans, walking the dog along the sand, catching up with family and friends. Higgins needed to be a home for the sustainably conscious and considered lifestyle for this young family.

Sunkissed Higgins is a home inspired by the aussie beach culture of the 70’s & 80’s. Designed and built by mates of 30 years the home was intimately developed through briefing and workshopping of ideas and a reflection of who were are and what lives we choose to live. The home maximises passive energy use in a response to a great understanding of its context while embracing coastal themes and materiality in its composition. Higgins is a home for those who live on the coast to embrace everything it has to offer.

Higgins sense of place has been immediately resonated with local community. Only a short walk to the local surf break and sitting at the end of bike path that runs along the coast, Higgins is a public addition to the town for a private residence. The scale of the build minimises impact on neighbours views behind whilst its vibrancy is a reflection to the surf culture a lifestyle. Constructed by a local contractor & local trades the environmental impact of the home demonstrates an active response to reducing embodied energy a community engagement.

On the south coast, southerly breezes can often be too fresh for home owners to enjoy use of their front balconies over looking the coast. We created a north facing private yard where on sunny days the family can escape the cooler breezes and stay warm outside. Salvaged materials for the home have been brought together in a controlled palette. The facade intentionally fades out to a lighter scheme to reduce solar absorption. Views to the ocean are maintained through all but two rooms of the house, including the workshop that is sited at the rear of the block. Privacy in a small home is important, public and private spaces are divided along the widest boundary of the site which allows separated space to take in views to the coast. Volume is a consideration for internal space. Whilst the intention is to control the home as much as possible with passive techniques, the HVAC sits below the floor allowing the spaces to be controlled with less energy use. Two skate ramps come off the side of the driveway increasing the efficiency of use of the site but more importantly adding to the lifestyle.