Located only a few metres from the shore at Bondi Beach in Sydney is the North Bondi II Residence.

Sydney builder Horizon and architects Tobias Partners worked together to transform the original 1980s building from a beach house into a four-bedroom, modern home.

The build was particularly challenging – the site had difficult access, and internal finishes required a high level of care on installation. Unique features of the home include a copper fireplace, a pool cut into existing rock, terrazzo flooring and beeswax plaster walls.

The original home had very low ceiling heights, with minimal space for services. During the build, the structure needed to be highly secured to support the removal of walls and create beautiful wide, open-plan living spaces.

Despite the coastal setting, the owners didn’t want a typical beach-house feel.

Spread over three levels, the home includes a craft room, music room, a library that doubles as a guest room, and a large living area with sweeping views of Bondi Beach.

The space also houses a cinema room, draped in blue velvet, with blue carpet and blue walls.

The childrens’ bedrooms are joined, with separate spaces for privacy, and a shared play area. The design works to accommodate the future separation of the bedrooms, as the children grow.

The light-filled design plays host to an eclectic selection of artwork while remaining highly practical for a young, active family.

The diverse art collection ranges from a Papua New Guinean mask (inclusive of the moth head and bone through its nose), to a piece by Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro of the Challenger space shuttle explosion, which is made entirely out of LEGO.

The builder/architect relationship was strengthened by the need for close collaboration throughout this project.

Photography by Justin Alexander.