search
  • Beach Houses and Their Architectural Styles

    Beach houses are designed specifically for coastal stays where one can enjoy their leisure time with friends and family. They are also known as beach cottages or coastal homes, residences on or near a beach, and are often used as vacation or second homes. Beach houses are frequently designed to withstand the unique coastal climate and may have features like large windows, outdoor spaces, and elevated foundations. These houses are made with durable materials that are resistant to saltwater and exposure to the climate. They need extra efficiency in their construction techniques that make them livable.

    Looking at the characteristics of beach houses, one can see how the spaces can turn your living experience safe and sound.

    What are the different types of Beach Houses?

    Beach Houses and their architectural styles differ from place to place. Beaches undergo a seasonal change from being wider in summer to narrower and steeper in winter. Hence, the architecture of a beach house is a response to the climate of a region, involving other types of architectural knowledge. Beach houses enhance the coastal experience by bringing humans close to nature.

    The different types of beach houses are

    1. Mediterranean Style

    It has arches and stucco, terracotta roofs used in the construction, giving the spaces a Mediterranean feel.

    2. Coastal Traditional Style

    Traditional beach houses that have porches and front gardens in their open floor plans, which offer one outdoor space.

    3. Contemporary Coastal Style

    This style mixes contemporary aesthetics with coastal effects that include open floor plans, large windows, and clean lines in construction.

    4. Duplexes/Condos

    These are basic beach houses that are low in cost and have free-flowing plans and designs.

    5. Key West-style

    This style has a design that has colorful paint and large openings that make the house a very interesting place to live.

     Beach Houses
    Project by: CK Architect & Interior Designer

    What are the characteristics of a Beach House?

    Looking at the above architectural style for a beach house, we can also see its types through how they are planned and designed. Other elements are:

    1. Location:

    It must be situated on or near the beach, allowing easy access to the shores and the ocean views.

    2. Designs:

    If they are built on sand, special considerations must be carried out for resisting the climate effect by using different paints and foundation techniques for stability.

    3. Materials:

    There are specific materials that are used while building them, such as wood, stainless steel, fiber-cement siding, or concrete blocks, depending on the different building codes for different regions.

    4. Amenities:

    There must be certain spaces, such as decks, patios, and gardens, for enjoying the beach and ocean views.

     Beach Houses
    Project By: Architecture Discipline

    Examples:

    1. Old House Design in a small hamlet

    • Traditional Coastal Beach House

    This old home is built on the coastal area of the Konkan valley, being the ancestral home for the family. This house sits on the sub-tropical terrain of the region with fresh air and birds around. It has red laterite stone, a pitched roof, and traditional architectural elements, making it a traditional coastal beach house.

    • Location: The Konkan Valley, Maharashtra

    Being just half a mile away from the beach, the waves on the shore surround the house. Along with the winds that pass by through the water makes the environment of the beach house very serene in its own way.

    • Materials: Locally available materials

    Here, there was a use of locally available materials around the house. The use of Kota, Kadappa, Jaiselmer, and Shabad stone slabs was used in the flooring of the house. The waste from these was repurposed to build multi-color mosaic floors in the verandah.

     Beach Houses
    Project By: The Architecture Company (TAC)

    • Design of the house:

    The house has a verandah, formed due to the built blocks around each other, which have seating spaces under trees, allowing the sea breeze to come through. Furthermore, it visually connects the lawn to the seats.

     Beach Houses
    Project By: The Architecture Company (TAC)

    • Amenities:

    The house has many intimate spaces, giving everyone individual space that they need. It has 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a double-height living space, verandas, terraces, a kitchen with an outdoor dining area, a gym, and staff quarters.

     Beach Houses
    Project By: The Architecture Company (TAC)

    This traditional coastal beach house has many open and semi-open spaces that serve the passageways connecting the whole house. The materials have the effect of the region due to their local sourcing.

     Beach Houses
    Project By: The Architecture Company (TAC)

    2. House near Vagator, Goa

    • Contemporary Coastal beach house

    The beach house in the Goan village near Vagator beach has timber, using modern construction techniques. The structure consists of eleven glulam portal frames that define the central volume of the home

    • Location: Goan village, Vagator beach

    It is located in a tranquil village of Goa, near the Vagator beach, which is made up of timber. This house is a sea-facing house that is cost-effective and an experiment in the construction with timber on the coastal part.

    • Materials:

    The beach house consists of stilts and concrete retaining walls. It is a single linear rock that has a pitched roof made by keeping in mind the Goa monsoon seasons. It is made of glulam or glued laminated timber that has structural integrity and a low carbon footprint, with strength comparable to steel.

    Project By: Architecture Discipline
    • Design:

    The beach house is economically and environmentally sustainable and efficient. Also, the beach house consists of detailed drawings and structural planning. There is an open plan scheme within the linear block of the beach house. The living and dining area sits within the center of the house, while the semi-private guest bedrooms are at the end of the house.

    • Amenities:

    There are double-height spaces in the beach house that allow the open plan areas to have infused light through the skylights that also provide the air of the shores.

    Project By: Architecture Discipline

    The beach house is the amalgamation of spaces, such as the passageways formed near the staircase, which have a view of the living room, while there are wood workshops that are in the lower level.

    Project By: Architecture Discipline

    3. A house with natural materials and airy colors

    • Key-West style

    This beach house uses natural materials, airy colors, and openings that allow the sea winds to flow inside, giving the house a very light atmosphere.

    • Location: Dumas beach, Surat

    The beach house is a 7500 sqft area opposite the Dumas beach in Surat city, having a connection with the surrounding spaces in its design.

    • Materials:

    The construction of this beach house uses natural materials such as brick. The brick-clad facades of the house protect it from the harsh climate of the coastal area. There is the use of wooden furniture and bright colored upholstery that makes the rooms lavish and cozy.

    • Design:

    The beach house has a plan where every space is accessible from the center of the house. Moreover, the house has a gazebo and elevated landscape around it that gives one access to the environment of the beach.

    Project By: CK Architect & Interior Designer

    • Amenities:

    The beach house also has certain amenities, such as a refreshing swimming pool area that overlooks the patio. Additionally, this patio offers a sitting space that can connect one to the beach.

    Project By: CK Architect & Interior Designer

    The combination of beautiful colors and materials, such as Kota stones, gave the beach house a very luxurious and cozy look. The beach house is a good example of mixing colors with nature in the coastal region, where there is beautiful sunlight and fresh air.

    Project By: CK Architect & Interior Designer

    Conclusion

    Looking at the characteristics of a beach house and the examples, one can see how the designs can affect the spatial qualities. Beach houses are places where one comes to rejuvenate time as a family or group. These are places that offer open floor plans with skylights in the roof that infuse natural light will enhance the house. Lately, they have been the kind of houses in which people invest for their places of leisure. Looking at the designs, we can say that they are places that can enhance leisure time.

    Content Writing and Research: Rajeshwari Pandya Modi

    This 4000 sq ft House Design Unfolds Calm Lifestyle | Avani Mudra Design

    “Viraam,” a 4000 sq ft house design that embodies its literal translation: “a pause.” The vision is to create a sanctuary for relaxation, introspection, and to escape from the constant demands of daily life – an urban void for personal retreat. This 4000 sq ft House Design Unfolds Calm Lifestyle | Avani Mudra Design Reimagining […]

    Read More

    This Indian Contemporary House Design is a Tranquil Retreat | DESIGNEX

    The facade of this Indian contemporary house design strikes a careful balance between solids and voids, with sculpted forms that reveal the inner workings of the space. The design plays with light and shadow, creating visual depth and intrigue from the exterior. The form resembles a cuboid that has been scooped out, while the outer […]

    Read More

    This 5 Storey Building Takes Inspiration From Haveli | SJK Architects 

    This 5 storey building takes inspiration from ancient haveli architecture. “Hailing from north India, the family held deep nostalgia for haveli, large residences with communal courtyards called chowks, projecting balconies called jharokhas and intricate brick or stone lattice screens called jaalis, vernacular to many western and northern regions of India,” said SJK Architects partner Vaishali […]

    Read More

    This Residence Embraces Tradition with Stone Clad Walls | Gaurav Deore Architects

    Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]

    Read More

    This Load-Bearing House Embeds Original Integrity with Contemporary Design | Studio Kosha

    This remodelling project aimed to revitalise a load-bearing house while respecting its original integrity and adapting it to contemporary needs. The design approach prioritised minimal structural intervention, allowing the existing framework to guide spatial reconfiguration. Careful consideration was given to preserving the load-bearing walls, which formed the backbone of the original construction. Openings were strategically […]

    Read More

    This Modern Approach Redefines Indian Temple Architecture | Karan Darda Architects

    Redefining Indian temple architecture, the relocation of the existing shrine due to a new residential project presented an opportunity to design a space that seamlessly integrates tradition with contemporary needs. The given 400 sq. ft. site was envisioned not merely as a shrine to Lord Datta, a local deity, but as a vibrant community space, […]

    Read More

    This Compact House Design is Rooted in Tradition | Design Matters

    Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]

    Read More

    This Contemporary Courtyard House Creates a Serene Urban Oasis | Ace Associates

    This contemporary courtyard house is designed within constraints that often give rise to the most creative solutions. This residence, nestled in a landlocked plot flanked by development on three sides, represents a unique architectural intervention that turns limitation into opportunity. The client’s vision was both unusual and ambitious: to create a twin house under one […]

    Read More

    This Multi Generational Home Blends Aesthetics & Functionality | Design Consortium

    This multi generational home is a testament to the ability of the design practice to blend aesthetic appeal with practical functionality. Keeping environmental sustainability and the welfare of the community at the forefront, Bhowal designed a home that was truly ahead of its time. His visionary approach and the Design Consortium’s expertise in providing a […]

    Read More

    Farmhouse Designs in India: 15 Inspiring Styles To Know

    The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]

    Read More
  • Why Every Contemporary Living Room Needs an Elegant Table

    This Lighting Showroom Interiors Glows With Visual Drama | Yellow Architects