Casuarina Beach Airbnb

Our clients recently purchased a new block of land in Casuarina Beach, NSW, where they wish to retire in a 3-story newly built home. They also wanted the land to contain a New York industrial studio-style granny flat that they could use as an Airbnb for people wishing to holiday next to the beautiful beaches that Casuarina Beach offers. There were challenges in fitting both the main house and the Airbnb home on a small block of under 400m², however, our architects have created a well-suited design.

This 3 story home has a compact design that still contains all spaces and amenities that the clients requested. The main house is separate from the Airbnb at the back of the home and is accessed through a separate entry. This allows the owners to live completely separately from the guests staying in the Airbnb. The home also contains a lift and generous, accessible hallways to make the home future-proof for the retiring couple. The home features 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a powder room, a sewing room, a retreat, a deck, a home office, and an open plan kitchen, living, and dining.

Our clients also wanted sustainable features throughout the home. To achieve this we have implemented a large number of solar panels that are north facing to capture as much sunlight as possible. We also added a water tank to capture rainwater which is located underground to ensure space is being maximised on the small block. The design also takes into account the coastal environment such as through the stainless finishes. This prevents rusting and damage over time to the home which is indicated in the independent Quantity Surveyor costing.

The granny flat located in the back of the house is designed to be used as an Airbnb by the owners. It features a pergola over the elevated spa which is covered in hanging vines to create a relaxing environment in addition to the outdoor shower. There is outdoor storage so guests have a place to store surfboards or bikes. The outdoor area also features an entertaining area that is surrounded by a raised garden planter that doubles as a privacy screen to shade the property from the western sun. There is also a servery window from the kitchenette inside.

The granny flat features New York industrial studio inspired interiors. This is showcased through cement and exposed brick finishes, an upper loft with the bedroom, and large glass windows.