184 marieclaire.com.auStackable glass doors
link the living area to
the balcony. Below left:
Honed granite benchtops,
a black stone wall and
timber elements set a
low-key tone in the
ensuite. Below right:
Family holidays are filled
with water sports.I
n the beginning, all South African Mike
Beamish wanted was a space for his surf-
boards. His wife Jan simply dreamt of a
shack made of shipping containers. The pri-
ority for their holiday house in South Africa’s
Plettenberg Bay was directed outside, where
the family spends their afternoons stand-up paddle-
boarding in the Keurbooms River Lagoon, taking
their boat to pump for prawns, surfing and fishing.
With time, the promise of so much outdoor bliss
spilled over to the house itself, and the plan for the
interior evolved to include a teenage-friendly den, a
guest suite and an open-plan expanse dedicated to
dining and relaxing. The couple turned to architect
Tessa van Schaik of The Planet Thing to combine
their ideas into a workable concept. “Tessa took my
initial sketch and made it real with her practicality
and attention to detail,” says Jan.
Along with architect Luke Brown, Tessa chose
to create a concrete structure but incorporated lots
of reclaimed timber out of respect for the environ-
ment. “I love using wood, but I’m horrified by what
the building industry is doing to our forests,” she
says. “Besides, recycled wood brings in life, patina
and has lots of personality to it.”
A stash of beautiful Oregon pine was sourced at
a nearby demolition site, and Jan and Mike also
chose a combination of South African pine for the
floors and iroko for the balconies. “I love the mixture
of wooden textures and colours,” says Jan.
Tessa also used slatted timber elements on the
outer facades of the house – in part to meet the brief
of a “surfer shack” but also to infuse the south-facing
property with as much light as possible. “The slatted
wood adds a casualness to the design of an other-
wise sophisticated little house. It also brings in a
lovely play with light,” says Tessa.
“The Ark”, as it’s been dubbed, is a welcoming
retreat after a day on the water. And even though the
den – complete with bunks and a ping-pong table –
is a beacon for friends of the couple’s children, Nick
(20), Chris (17) and Ali (15), the big dining table in
the main cooking and living area is the heart of the
home. “We wanted meals to draw everyone to one
place,” says Jan. Of course, the “easy, fast, fresh”
meals she and Mike cook up in the concrete and tim-
ber kitchen have a gravitational force of their own.
First thing in the morning, Jan and Mike get
their surf report from the viewing platform up the
ladder above the bathroom. At night, the guestroom
and Jan and Mike’s bedroom, which both face the
lagoon, share the best view of the village lights on
the water’s surface, says Jan. “It’s really magical.”
Mike’s original request for a spot for his surf-
board was met with a ground-floor haven of storage,
featuring an outdoor shower for boards and sand-
covered feet. It’s these thoughtful touches that make
life in the house so free and easy. “It’s exceeded our
expectations,” says Jan of her sophisticated surf hut.LIFESTYLE