Softly on Sand

A series of exclusive holiday homes featuring lightweight steel building technology is making a minimal impact on the fragile coastal bushland environment at Jervis Bay on the New South Wales south coast.

The Benton Sands Estate at Callala Beach is an eco-development designed to be sympathetic to the natural beachbush setting of Jervis Bay, which is on the Register of the National Estate because of its heritage value.

Twelve two storey holiday homes are nearing completion on the site featuring contemporary designs and colour schemes that complement the natural surroundings and also preserve most of the trees on the site.

Lightweight steel building technology incorporates roofing made from COLORBOND® steel and steel house frames made from ZINCALUME® steel.

Design architect Felix Antonius of JAF Design said the prime concept for the development was to create environmentally friendly beach homes, sympathetic to the natural surroundings while capturing the beach culture.

"The Jervis Bay area is famous for its sandy white beaches and natural bushland," said Mr Antonius.

"Our brief was to create holiday homes using a design approach sympathetic to the natural landscape and coastal environment. The roof forms made from COLORBOND® steel, for example, develop a rhythm with the surrounding trees and the light colour of Shale Grey™ complements the natural surrounds."

The choice of lightweight steel building frames made from ZINCALUME® steel allowed the architects to maximise the use of large glazed areas and incorporate courtyards, decks and balconies to make a connection with the immediate bush and promote a mix of indoor and outdoor living.

"These holiday homes will give future occupants a real sense of living within a bushland context," Mr Antonius said.

"When you are in the upper rooms there is a definite sense of being amongst the trees."

"From a design point of view, the quality and strength of steel allowed us to create the building forms without compromising any of the features or aesthetics in what is an upmarket beachside estate."

"Steel's durability and resistance to termites and bushfires also made it a very appropriate building material for the bushland environment," Mr Antonius said.