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Technically, Pearl Beach is a suburb of
Gosford. In reality it is a secluded coastal
community with a population of under 500
and just one road linking it to the
cosmopolitan trappings of nearby Umina
Beach.
With views over Broken Bay, ready access to
wetlands and bush walks, rainforest and the
Hawkesbury, it’s little wonder that this idyllic spot
attracts a large weekender population.
The owners of this stunning and imaginative
house retained their previous holiday home, a
duplex shared with another family, built just a
few doors away in 1992.The new and the old
homes share three characteristics: location
(both have absolute beach frontage), designer
(Porebski Architects), and walling material
(concrete masonry).
“The client liked the concrete block from his
previous house so much that there wasn’t a
question of not using it again,” says Alex
Porebski. His father,Andre Porebski (who
designed the original house) and Caomhán
Murphy were the project architects, with
Murphy also handling site works.Andre’s
daughter,Victoria D’Alisa, is the practice’s
interior designer.
Weatherboards are a popular cladding
material in this location, however the
designers took their cues from the caves and
sandstone cliffs in the surrounding area
“which seem to have lasted a lot longer than
the trees!”Alex quips.
The saline environment and windborne sand
were another factor in choosing to once
again specify concrete masonry which is
highly resistant to abrasion and attack by
moist, salt-laden air.And face blockwork, both
internally and externally, doesn’t require
expensive finishes such as paint to maintain
its durability.As well as being high in
embodied energy, painted finishes must be
reapplied frequently in this demanding
environment.
The Alabaster coloured masonry units
selected from Austral Masonry’s Architec
range have a Smooth Face finish.Three other
colours are available in the series and four
additional finishes: Split Face, Honed Face,
Project:
The Block House
Location:
Pearl Beach NSW
Function:
Holiday residence
Architect:
Porebski Architects
Structural engineer:
James Taylor & Associates
Builder:
Kendale Homes
Featured products:
Austral Masonry Architec
™
Smooth Face concrete masonry in Alabaster
Photography:
Conor Quinn