Private sale: beautiful and unusual house in Bremer Bay

The house stands on a hillside about 50m above sea level. The ocean views are spectacular. Nothing gets in the way.

There are two sections to the house: the main house and a self-contained guest wing, connected by a corridor. They can be used as one house or independently. On the ground floor, there are two bedrooms, three bathrooms, and two kitchens. There is a third bedroom in a large mezzanine space. The house (counting both parts) comfortably sleeps 12.

The walls are double concrete blocks, hand finished with white cement and local dune sand. The interior surface was applied by hand, adobe style. The ground-level floors are polished concrete. Ceilings are a combination of rattan woven bamboo and pine logs.

The roof is flat colour bond, hidden beneath parapet walls. Window frames are premium-grade commercial quality anodised aluminium.

The house was finished in 2004 and it featured in a nine-page article in Scoop Magazine (under "Amazing Homes"). The Sunday Times also ran a lengthy article.

We are selling as a help in funding our retirement. We now want to spend our time in Perth, close to our grandchildren.

    –– Mark and Sandra Alderson

Advantages of the house

The two independent parts of the house give us a lot of flexibility. For large family gatherings, we use both. At other times, we simply lock the main house and rent out the guest house.

The type of construction takes away worries: it is extremely solid and suits the Bremer Bay coast, just like it does the coastal housing in Spain. It is meant to last and have low maintenance.

Very little heating or cooling is needed. The house points south for the magnificent views, while a double-storey window to the north captures winter sunshine and heats the thermal mass of the concrete floors. Summer cooling comes from sea breezes and natural ventilation.

The maintenance of the garden is simple. The house is surrounded by a dry limestone gravel garden, sprinkled with native vegetation and some sandstone paving.

A tour of the main house

The main living area. This is a large open space with a lounge and formal dining area. Sliding doors to the south look out on the ocean. Side windows offer panoramic views of Dillon Bay to the west and many small coves to the east.
The kitchen. Down one side there's a travertine marble bench top. Warm winter sunshine floods in from a two-storey northern window. Beneath the window are two built-in day beds with storage underneath. A great place for breakfast or coffee!
An entrance hall leads from the kitchen through antique French doors. They open onto the entrance hall. To the left is a laundry and to the right a shower and toilet (not shown). Straight ahead are hand-carved antique Indian double doors. (See the photo section.) Beyond that is a cobbled portico.
Off the main living area is the master bedroom. It has sea views on two sides.
The ensuite bathroom has a travertine marble basin, marble tiles, and a bath with a sculptured dolphin tap. Sliding doors facing north open onto a private zen-style courtyard.
The mezzanine floor is reached using an external staircase. The staircase rises under an arched balcony, with an antique wrought-iron balustrade. The mezzanine bedroom is a light and airy retreat. (Some guests have told us it reminds them of their favourite childhood hideout.) A ship's spar adds a nautical touch to the top of the mezzanine rail.

The guest house

Off the north end of the kitchen there's a corridor with a 45 degree bend. It leads to the living area of the guest house: a combination kitchen, dining area and lounge. There are superb views from the windows here. Off this main room is a hallway to the bathroom, toilet and shower, and to the double bedroom with views to the east.

See 33 Photos for more photos, larger ones, each with a detailed caption.