The Shack is a family-oriented beach house at The Gardens, north of St Helens in the Bay of Fires. Shane Denman was commissioned by his clients who reside in Aspen, Colorado to design them a summer holiday house that takes in the glorious views of the Bay of Fires.

The foremost issue for Shane’s clients was to retain as much of the natural landscape as possible with the location of the footprint being equally as important to maintain privacy for this house, as well as the existing neighbouring residences. As the site is long and narrow, sloping eastward towards the beach, Shane was lucky to have an incredible vista to work with and was easily able to fulfil the clients’ requests.

Structural glazing and frameless glass doors and balustrades were an integral part of the design of the house so as to make the most of the spectacular views, and as you approach The Shack from the roadway you immediately notice its apparent transparency. The clever design and choice of materials reduces the impact of the dwelling from the roadway and makes it seemingly blend into the ocean and white sands on the beach beyond. The selected materials were chosen for their aesthetics but also to be as maintenance-free as possible, so the part-time residents’ upkeep is kept minimal. The roofline is a key feature of the design and Shane incorporated the roof shapes to mimic the rolling waves of the Tasman Sea. Exposed polished timber rafters on the upper floor are eye-catching and continue the rolling wave theme in the generous living area. 

The Shack has 3 bedrooms on the lower floor, plus a guest suite on the main floor level. The master bedroom proudly displays magnificent uninterrupted views of the Bay thanks to expansive glass usage and it opens onto a deck with a hot tub which is used frequently after swims and surfs. A courtyard to the north-west allows a calm retreat from southerly winds and also gives privacy from the roadway but still allows views to the ocean. The clients are thrilled with the end result, and environmentally the project is also a success. Expansive usage of glass permits an abundance of natural light and ventilation.