Terrigal Duplex Design: A Considered Coastal Response

A COASTAL INVESTMENT SHAPED BY LIGHT, LANDSCAPE AND LONGEVITY

Set on an east-facing site in Terrigal, this project presented an opportunity to transform an ageing investment property into a thoughtfully designed dual occupancy that embraces coastal living, natural light and enduring value.

The owners had held the property for many years as an investment. The existing home had served its time, but the site itself still held enormous potential. Their brief was clear: to replace the old dwelling with a pair of duplex residences that would stand as a thoughtful long-term asset, while feeling light, coastal and contemporary.

For me, the best dual occupancy projects are never simply about fitting two homes where one once stood. They are about balance. Balance between individuality and cohesion. Balance between privacy and openness. Balance between investment value and the quiet, everyday pleasure of living well.

This project asked us to create two homes that feel equally considered — not one favoured by orientation and one compromised by it, but two residences with their own sense of light, calm and generosity.

READING THE SITE BEFORE DRAWING THE FORM

The site faces east, which immediately shaped the design conversation. In a side-by-side duplex arrangement, one dwelling naturally benefits from a northerly aspect, while the other can so easily become cooler and darker.

The answer came through the roof form. We introduced a carefully positioned skillion roof to the southern dwelling, using its pitch to capture northern sunlight and draw it into the interior. It is a subtle but important move — the kind of architectural decision that will shape the way people experience the home every single day.

I have always believed that natural light is one of the most powerful materials we work with. It gives a room energy in the morning, softness in the afternoon and a sense of life that no artificial finish can replicate. Here, the roofline becomes more than a formal gesture. It becomes a way of sharing light fairly between both homes.

A COASTAL STREET PRESCENCE WITH STRENGTH AND WARMTH

From the street, the duplex has been designed as a composed and confident coastal residence. The architecture has structure, but it is not severe. Two distinct volumes sit side by side, unified through a shared language of natural materials, vertical rhythm and carefully framed openings.

The upper levels are grounded by concrete forms that give the facade clarity and permanence. Vertical aluminium screens provide privacy and shade. These screens change throughout the day — sometimes reading as a strong architectural element, and at other times dissolving into shadow and reflection.

At ground level, natural timber brings warmth to the façade. The garage doors and entry elements are wrapped in timber, softening the building’s presence and creating a more welcoming arrival. This warmth is balanced by sandstone walls, which anchor the project beautifully to its Central Coast setting.

Sandstone is a material I return to often because it belongs so naturally to this landscape. It has a grounding quality. It feels familiar, honest and permanent. Used here across the site walls and lower facade elements, it helps the duplex settle into its coastal neighbourhood rather than stand apart from it.

The landscaping continues this sense of belonging. Hardy coastal planting, including grasses, succulents and sculptural native forms, softens the edges of the building and keeps ongoing maintenance practical for a long-term investment property.

INTERIORS DESIGNED FOR CALM, LIGHT AND EVERYDAY RITUAL

Inside, the homes continue the same quiet coastal language. The palette is light, warm and tactile: pale stone, soft timber, warm whites, brushed metal and gentle integrated lighting.

The kitchen is designed as the heart of the living space. Full-height timber cabinetry provides warmth and storage, while the cooking zone is neatly recessed to keep the room calm and uncluttered.

A fluted timber island anchors the space, introducing texture and shadow at eye level. Stone benchtops add durability without heaviness, while the open-plan arrangement allows the kitchen, dining and living areas to feel connected and generous. The result is not showy. It is composed, practical and quietly elegant — exactly the sort of space that supports daily life without demanding attention.

In the living areas, the elevated ceiling and carefully placed glazing bring a sense of lift. Sunlight will move across the timber floorboards, creating that gentle coastal brightness we were aiming for from the beginning.

The bathrooms have been treated with the same restraint. Large-format tiles create a seamless base, while fluted wall tiles introduce a finer texture. Frameless glass keeps the shower zones open and light. Softly illuminated mirrors, brushed tapware and warm timber vanities give the rooms a feeling of quiet luxury without excess.

For me, these are the details that matter. A bathroom should feel calm in the morning and restorative at the end of the day. A kitchen should feel generous, not cluttered. A living room should invite people to pause.

NAVIGATING CONSTRAINT WITH CARE

While the design feels calm and resolved, the site itself carries technical complexity. The property sits within a flood-affected area, which meant the architecture needed to respond carefully to finished floor levels, drainage, resilience and council requirements.

This required a Development Application pathway through Central Coast Council, supported by close collaboration with the client and local consultants. These are the moments in a project where experience becomes very important. The architecture has to satisfy the planning framework, respond to environmental constraints and still protect the feeling of the home.

I often say that constraints are not the enemy of good design. In many ways, they sharpen it. They ask us to be more precise, more thoughtful and more disciplined. On this project, the flood considerations, orientation and dual occupancy requirements all became part of the design story.

A LASTING COASTAL RESPONSE

The Terrigal Dual Occupancy is transforming an ageing investment property into two contemporary coastal homes with strength, warmth and longevity.

Its success lies in the way each challenge has been quietly resolved: the east-facing block, the side-by-side arrangement, the need for northern light, the flood constraints, the planning pathway and the desire for a material palette that belongs to the Central Coast.

For me, it is always about honouring light, life and the land. This project does that with quiet confidence. It is modern without feeling cold, coastal without becoming clichéd, and investment-minded without losing its sense of home.

When complete, the architecture will give both dwellings what every well-designed coastal residence should offer: natural light, a sense of calm, connection to place and the feeling that everyday living has been gently elevated.

NOTE

(General guidance only—approval pathways can be site-specific.) While every effort is made to ensure that the information contained within this article is accurate and up to date, Slater Architects makes no warranty, representation or undertaking whether expressed or implied, nor does it assume any legal liability, whether direct or indirect, or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information.

Some images in this article have been generated using artificial intelligence (AI) to illustrate design concepts. These visuals may not fully reflect a final built outcome, and certain elements or details may vary, however they are intended to represent the overall design intent.