February 7, 2025

Marcus Beach House Blends Old and New in Seamless Harmony

Marcus Beach is a house in Noosa, Australia, designed by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture in 2023. The project involved adding to an existing beachside home, focusing on privacy and open-plan living while maintaining seamless indoor-outdoor spaces. The addition incorporates a minimalist palette of white and timbers, enhancing light and creating a harmonious dialogue between old and new.

A modern, open-concept home with a white exterior, gabled roof, and wooden accents.

Contemporary Alterations at Marcus Beach House

The Marcus Beach House in the beachside area of Noosa, Australia, showcases a transformation courtesy of the team at Alexandra Buchanan Architecture in 2023.

Warm, modern interiors with exposed beams, natural wood furnishings, and large windows overlooking lush greenery.

Tackling a Challenging Layout

The house originally had a convoluted plan, requiring reconfiguration while maintaining indoor/outdoor living. The team focused on privacy to the street frontage while creating expansive open-plan living spaces.

“The dormitory extension to the side of the house provides for the family’s private spaces/sleeping quarters,” said the team.

Well-designed modern kitchen with wood cabinetry, marble countertop, and sleek bar stools.

The design predominantly worked with the home’s original form, creating an apparent transition between old and new.

“The entrance lies at the centre of the axis, acting as a bridge between the old and new/public and private and creating a gradient of separation & a large picture window to the garden creating a sense of space and light previously lacking,” they added.

Warm, open-concept home with exposed brick, wood ceilings, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow.

Creating Light and Connection

More contemporary touches, such as white VJ panels, were included, focusing on a minimalist material palette influenced by colonial style.

“Retaining the bones of the existing building, dark and under-utilised spaces now make way to open, warm and engaging volumes,” the team added.

“The materiality of the build is a minimalist but tasteful palette of white and light timbers playing with a colonial palette and beach vibes.”

Cozy bedroom with warm wood paneling, plush bedding, and a view of lush greenery.

Ultimately, modern additions were made explicit while allowing for a harmonious relationship between styles.

“The addition of white VJ’s internally is intended to create texture whilst fulfilling the client’s brief of more contemporary addition,” they finished.

Other projects with light palettes in Queensland include Acacia House by Paul Uhlmann Architects.