Esplanade Brighton
The heart of a coastal composition in three parts.
locationBrighton
floor area530 m2
completion2025
The heart of a coastal composition in three parts.
The design and construction of this coastal home at Brighton was crafted with precision by the team at Finesse Built. Emphasising durability and elegance, the home was designed to withstand harsh coastal weather, with a focus on longevity and practicality, while offering an elevated beach lifestyle for its owners.
Every aspect of the build, from the materials to the functionality, has been meticulously planned and executed to ensure both form and function align seamlessly with the stunning beachside location.
The crisp white render, paired with intricate trim details, highlights the exceptional attention to detail that defines Finesse Built’s approach to the design and construction of this home.
The inset sliding door track allows for a smooth transition from the timber floors inside to the timber deck outside, while operable cantilevered awnings offer flexibility in controlling shade throughout the day.
An underground rainwater tank sits under the deck and lawn to support the home’s water use.
The deep, thin fence slats provide both privacy and a clear view, creating a perfect balance of seclusion and openness.
With all the glazing and the richness of the natural materials used throughout, the home feels balanced with minimal furniture and artwork.
The kitchen and living areas offer contemporary living, where efficiency meets style. A light colour palette contrasts with the rich timber floors, creating a space that is both inviting and sophisticated.
The bulkhead above the kitchen serves both as a defining feature of the space and a functional housing for the AC linear slot grills. Floor-to-ceiling cabinet doors on either side of the cooking zone conceal access to the walk-in pantry and laundry, creating an open, connected feel when open, while offering privacy when closed. The dark pull handles on the larger doors contrast with the subtle finger-pulls on the smaller cabinets, ensuring a streamlined and cohesive design.
Floating cabinets in the living room and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors enhance the feeling of width in the room.
Upon entering, visitors are immediately drawn to the pool at the end of the hallway, with large doors enhancing the sense of openness.
The hallway also features practical cabinetry and bench space for everyday items, offering a convenient alternative to the usual accumulation that occurs on dining table or kitchen benchtops.
Reflected light from the pool highlights the grain of the natural timber floors, with their distinctive perfectly imperfect gum veins, showcasing the beauty of this authentic material used throughout.
The first thing this elegant staircase offers is the choice of directions with both cellar and upper-level access.
The thick single piece Blackbutt timber stair treads offer beautiful natural colour and texture against the purposefully flat white of the staircase surrounds. The recessed LED-lit handrails and wall fittings offer unique lighting while maintaining the staircase’s clean, uncluttered lines. Design and detailed in-house at Finesse the staircase was a lot of fun for the clients to be involved with.
For added convenience, the home is equipped with a lift to easily traverse the three levels at the touch of a button.
The master suite, located on the upper level, maximises privacy and ocean views. A cantilevered roof over the balcony provides both sun and weather protection while maintaining unobstructed views of the coastline through the huge sliding doors.
Inside, Western Red Cedar ceiling lining continues from outside in, adding warmth and texture to the room.
The ensuite is designed with a simple yet luxurious material colour palette, highlighted with natural timber and stone tiling. The bi-fold plantation shutters between the ensuite and bedroom give connection to the view wherever you are.
The main bathroom is a masterclass in how ‘less is more’ with its minimalist layout and material palette showing that ‘simple’ can be special.
The large format tiling, simple step behind cantilevered shower screen and linear floor grate elegantly deals with the practicalities of the space.
The gunmetal tapware and fixtures further enhance the lighter materials of the room, offering a subtle contrast that lifts everything in the space.
The inside-outside nature of the alfresco dining and pool area truly make this a third living space.
Like in the rest of the home, natural timber finishes are minimally used to great effect in the pool deck and outdoor kitchen cabinets.
The pool structure is completely integrated into the home’s foundation allowing the form of the building to continue straight down the side of the pool. The highly patterned nature of the pool tiling that can so often look busy, looks considered against the minimalist more monochromatic colours of the alfresco dining area.
The garage connected to the rear laneway gives comfortable room for two cars and space for hobbies. The bright red personal access door adds a bold touch, ensuring when you order-in it will always come to the right house.
The corner window makes for a very contemplative shower, also making the best of the long views outside.
A dedicated dressing room ensures everything has its place and helps keep the bedroom and ensuite peaceful and free of clutter.
At night the pool and its connection to the home becomes something very special, transforming the space into a stunning focal point, and the largest lighting feature in the home.
A side access gate connects the front of the home, and therefore the beach directly with the pool via a luxurious outdoor shower to make the most of those summer evenings and nights by the beach.
While somewhat constrained by the site dimensions and primary view direction, the home has been designed with sustainability in mind where possible.
As the middle residence in a trio of homes designed and built by Finesse Built, this property benefited from a small-scale master plan. The upper-level setbacks were progressively increased from the northern aspect of each dwelling, allowing greater natural light, improved airflow, and a stronger sense of openness within the rear courtyards.
Features such as operable shade devices, double glazing, and windows positioned to maximise crossflow ventilation help ensure comfort and energy efficiency year-round.
The aerated concrete upper-level floor panels mean insulative value is build right into the base elements of the home. Additional inclusion of R 5 roof insulation, and R 2.5 insulation in the external and internal walls help slow unwanted heat transfer out during winter, or in during summer.
The use of a multi-head reverse cycle ducted air conditioning system further enhances the home’s environmental credentials as the owners can control energy use throughout the seasons.
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