Ah, the illustrious Tamborine Street House — an exquisite collaboration between architect, builder, and client. Originally envisioned as a grand three-level abode, it was, of course, sensibly scaled down to fit a budget that somehow snagged awards. How refreshing! The client dreamt of a Hamptons-style escape, complete with sprawling ocean views — perfect, except for the tiny detail of squeezing that vision onto a narrow 400-square-metre lot in Mermaid. Who knew you could fit a seaside retreat so snugly next to your neighbours?

As the architect, my role was to craft the external framework and devise a livable floor plan, allowing the owner to work their magic with the builder on the interiors within the volumes we created. The end result? Quite pleasing, if I do say so myself. We managed to carve out some privacy and even a bit of open space in the North corner — remarkable, considering we somehow avoided the typical internal courtyard that often plagues designs. So, behold the marvel of Tamborine House, where dreams of coastal elegance meet the realities of a compact lot!