A Raw Yet Refined Bondi Beach Home Opens Up to the Neighborhood

This revamped Bondi home isn’t your typical oceanside pad. Although it’s light and airy inside, there’s a rawness to its materiality that gives it a more industrial vibe. Andrew Burges Architects worked extensively with the homeowners, Will and Julia Dangar, who took a hands-on approach to the design.

The couple are involved in the renovation industry themselves—they run a landscape design business, and Will is a partner in a construction company. "It was a very integrated process," remarks architect Andrew Burges.

With a solid eye for residential remodels, Will and Julia had a very specific brief in mind. They wanted to orchestrate social engagement between the public spaces of the home and the exterior laneway, and it had to work as both a vacation rental and a secondary home.

While Bondi is know for its array of architecture, this particular neighborhood features a mix of homes, cafes, and restaurants—and lots of foot traffic. In order to maintain a sense of privacy, Burges and his team transformed the long, thin Federation-era home with various materials, and took extra care to position the private spaces on the second floor.