The New Language of Coastal Architecture
In our recent essay, we explored why ambitious residential architecture belongs on the Northern Beaches — a region where landscape and lifestyle naturally invite boldness and beauty. But ambition isn’t just about scale or style. At buck&simple, we believe the future of luxury coastal living is defined by architecture that resonates — deeply, emotionally, and intuitively.
It’s about homes that feel both grounded and elevated. Simple, but never simplistic. Expressive, without shouting. Architecture with presence — a new kind of language we’ve come to understand as our own.
More Than Modernism
We don’t subscribe to the cookie-cutter coastal aesthetic. Instead, we seek to reinterpret modernism through a more sensory, human lens — one that balances clarity with atmosphere. Our architecture aims to be inevitable, not imposed; expressive, yet restrained.
In our work, this might look like spaces that unfold gradually. Rooms that capture the day’s shifting light. Materials that tell stories through texture. These aren’t embellishments — they’re deliberate design gestures that elevate the everyday. Around the studio, we call them the “buck&simple stuff” — our way of naming the quiet magic that happens when architecture does more than shelter.
The Best Coastal Homes Think Big
We stand by ambitious residential design — not for the sake of scale, but for the depth of thinking. The most enduring homes are rarely the safest. They’re the ones where boundaries were tested, where clients leaned into curiosity, and where the architecture rose to meet the complexity of the site.
Whether it’s a beach house in Avalon or a regional estate inland, our most rewarding projects are those that push against the conventional. Homes where the design responds to place in real, tangible ways — not just with views, but with feeling.
Leading the New Coastal Ethos
There’s a shift happening in Australian coastal architecture — and it’s not about extravagance. It’s about essence. The next wave of luxury homes speaks in softer tones, with sharper ideas. The focus is on presence, integrity, and connection — and we’re proud to be part of this movement.
Our approach draws inspiration from greats like Llyod-Wright, Murcutt, Kogan and Leplastrier — architects whose buildings are powerful not because they dominate the landscape, but because they belong to it. We take these ideas seriously, then evolve them for a new generation of homeowners who want their homes to feel as good as they look.
Designing With Intention
Every site holds a question: What’s the extraordinary potential here? That’s what drives our process. Not trends. Not ego. Just a genuine desire to create something purposeful, personal, and lasting.
So when we talk about our design philosophy, we’re not just referring to a style. We’re talking about a way of building — and of living — that’s expressive, thoughtful, and deeply human.
If you’re ready to explore what’s possible, we’d love to talk.
See how our Gateway House in Seaforth layers and responds to context
Explore the urban oasis of our little birch home
Take a tour of Casaballin to see poetic modernism intertwined with a mid century gem