It was a harmonious match from the outset: the pristine, glittering coast of Eagle Bay and the laid-back outdoor lifestyle of beloved family holidays in Bali. A large, multigenerational family, the owners of this property wanted a coastal home where they could enjoy time spent together and still maintain plenty of space to pursue their different interests.

Using a relaxed, holiday lifestyle as a starting point, we designed a ‘campus’ of buildings around a central courtyard where the family could come together. The property reflects the family’s busy lifestyle, with four children’s bedrooms, a self-contained studio for their grandmother, a gymnasium, a sauna, a tennis court, and lap and wading pools. With so many people in the house, it was important to keep the living spaces open and to create clear corridors for movement between the different areas. We also placed the kitchen in a central position with full views of the play and leisure areas, to allow easy supervision of the kids.

Our approach to the grounds mimics South-East Asian resorts, with a series of pavilions in the gardens that allow the family to make the most of the outside living spaces year-round. Continuous timber flooring and ceilings unite the inside and outside areas of the home, and the use of local limestone gives the house the relaxed, coastal feel the owners wanted. The courtyard itself is designed to provide shelter both from the sea breeze and the summer heat, with a solar passive design that incorporates blade walls, generous eaves and the traditional Australian verandah. This design also allows the owners to enjoy uninterrupted northern views of the Indian Ocean, a tranquil backdrop to this busy family home.