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Project posted by Luigi Rosselli Architects

Tama’s Tee House - A Coastal Concrete Unipod

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Named Tama's Tee House, 'Tama' is short for Tamarama—the Sydney beach suburb where the home is located.
Named Tama's Tee House, 'Tama' is short for Tamarama—the Sydney beach suburb where the home is located.
Along with its modern, refined appearance, the architects also relied heavily on concrete due to the material's resistance to seaside aggression—such as salt, humidity, and wind, which are unsparing agents of rapid decay.
Along with its modern, refined appearance, the architects also relied heavily on concrete due to the material's resistance to seaside aggression—such as salt, humidity, and wind, which are unsparing agents of rapid decay.
Due to the property's seaside location, the home was designed and constructed with various weather-resistant materials, including concrete and stainless steel.
Due to the property's seaside location, the home was designed and constructed with various weather-resistant materials, including concrete and stainless steel.
A peek at one of the home's covered outdoor seating areas—a perfect spot for relaxing and taking in a gorgeous Australian sunset.
A peek at one of the home's covered outdoor seating areas—a perfect spot for relaxing and taking in a gorgeous Australian sunset.
Another covered terrace. This roof and pillar is reflected in a cement-colored vitrified ceramic tile named "Memory Mood," which has been supplied by Terra Nova Ceramics.
Another covered terrace. This roof and pillar is reflected in a cement-colored vitrified ceramic tile named "Memory Mood," which has been supplied by Terra Nova Ceramics.
Thanks to the shutters that form private screens when viewed from the street, the residents can enjoy easy-breezy outdoor dining without having to worry about privacy.
Thanks to the shutters that form private screens when viewed from the street, the residents can enjoy easy-breezy outdoor dining without having to worry about privacy.
Notice the striking ceiling joists, which are supported by traditional criss-cross braces.
Notice the striking ceiling joists, which are supported by traditional criss-cross braces.
A Roscharch Blotch fireplace is located centrally in the open-place living area.
A Roscharch Blotch fireplace is located centrally in the open-place living area.
The dining area features an 'Oracle' pendant by Christopher Boots, as well as a painting by Joshua Yeldham.
The dining area features an 'Oracle' pendant by Christopher Boots, as well as a painting by Joshua Yeldham.
A peek at the contemporary kitchen. Here, the joinery was built by Building With Options and the laboratory grade was provided by Stone Italiana.
A peek at the contemporary kitchen. Here, the joinery was built by Building With Options and the laboratory grade was provided by Stone Italiana.
The crisp white walls contrast beautifully with the warm wooden floors throughout.
The crisp white walls contrast beautifully with the warm wooden floors throughout.
The crisp white walls contrast beautifully with the warm, timber floors, which are Sepia Grande Eterno engineered boards by Tongue N Groove.
The crisp white walls contrast beautifully with the warm, timber floors, which are Sepia Grande Eterno engineered boards by Tongue N Groove.
Another bathroom boasts a striking black-and-white patterned tile on the floor and is completed with gold faucets, wooden cabinetry, as well as a contemporary black sink.
Another bathroom boasts a striking black-and-white patterned tile on the floor and is completed with gold faucets, wooden cabinetry, as well as a contemporary black sink.
Emerald-green penny tiles line the walls in one of the sleek baths.
Emerald-green penny tiles line the walls in one of the sleek baths.

From Luigi Rosselli Architects

‘Tama’ is short for Tamarama: a Sydney beach suburb, famous for its hedonistic surf culture, gradually being gentrified by a population that exchanges stock market tips while running barefoot to the ocean with a surfboard tucked under their arms.

Geographically characterised by steep escarpments that surround the beach (far narrower than its near neighbours at Bondi and Bronte), the homes that cling to Tamarama’s hillsides are a mishmash of ticky-tacky boxes left by the previous generation of beach bunnies, now dwindled by skin carcinomas.

Tama’s Tee Home was constructed on what was solid and reusable from the previous house. Approximately fifty-percent of the previous structure was kept, including the large sandstone retaining wall to the front of the home and the garage beneath. The new concrete ‘Tee’ structure to the front of the house was designed so that it would rest on the single point of the garage structure below that would bear the weight; this explains the ‘unipod’ shape to the front façade of the home and the need to provide it with a solid concrete structure.

Ocean side architecture must be designed and constructed with very weather resistant materials: the salt, humidity and wind are implacable agents of rapid decay. If used properly, concrete is quite resistant to such seaside aggression. Marine grade roofing materials and stainless steel fixings are necessary in this position.

To adapt to the hillside the house was built over four storeys. Located on level three, the main living area benefits from ocean views to the northeast and a sheltered terrace to the northwest side that is protected from the strong coastal winds.

Project Architect, Raffaello Rosselli provided his own detailing and material palette interpretation for a refined beach house, embracing natural materials, exposed roof framing and light finishes that are washed by dappled and ever changing light that filters through custom designed shutters.