Positioned on the easternmost privately owned point of mainland Australia, Este presents itself as Byron Bay’s most incredible coastal dream home – where the drama of the natural world meets the discipline of refined architecture. Designed by Shaun Lockyer Architects and brought to life by DB Build, this architectural beach house establishes a compelling dialogue between land, sea and shelter. With uninterrupted views to Mount Warning and beyond, the project elevates the notion of Byron Bay accommodation through a deeply site specific response.
Tasked with creating a dual-purpose residence – both a Byron Bay luxury home for its owners and a luxury holiday home for guests – the architect crafted two interconnected pavilions. These are arranged to embrace both togetherness and privacy, and to amplify the surrounding elements of rainforest and ocean. The result is an ocean view home that unfolds in sequences, shifting from gallery-like arrival to relaxed, open-air living. At its core, the design is underpinned by restraint, material honesty and a layered spatial narrative that balances the cinematic with the serene, reinforcing its place as the most incredible coastal dream home for those seeking calm and connection.
The palette is deliberately reductive – a quiet interplay of concrete, timber and stone. Together, these elements form a grounding backdrop for the vibrant coastal setting, an ever-changing artwork viewed through carefully placed apertures. This approach to modern coastal design allows the home to remain visually calm while immersed in sensory richness. It’s a clear example of concrete and timber architecture being used not to dominate, but to disappear into place – letting light, landscape and life take centrestage within this most incredible coastal dream home setting.
Upon entry, laid Filetti tiles from Eco Outdoor guide guests down a sculpted path. From there, the spaces unfold upward into the pavilion – where resort-style luxury is presented with simplicity and ease. Whether during a sunlit summer morning or in the quiet of a winter storm, the deep eaves and generous openings allow the home to feel both expansive and cocooning. It is this ability to shift with the seasons and remain emotionally consistent that makes it the most incredible coastal dream home for all who visit.
The architectural logic extends into every detail, from the orientation to maximise winter sunsets to the protection from prevailing winds. As a luxury home tour destination, Este is unmatched in its balance of elegance and approachability. With art by renowned Australian creatives and lush landscape design by Green Care Project, this Australian beach house is as much an emotional refuge as it is an architectural feat.
Este redefines the typology of the most incredible coastal dream home, offering a Byron Bay luxury home that is timeless, grounded and deeply connected to its site. As an example of holistic coastal architecture, it stands as a model for future living – quiet, resilient and undeniably beautiful. In the context of a town already known for striking residential design, Este confidently positions itself as Byron Bay’s most incredible coastal dream home, raising the benchmark for what a true architectural beach house can be.
00:00 – Introduction to Byron Bay’s Most Incredible Coastal Dream Home
01:37 – The Site and Its Extraordinary Setting
02:26 – The Brief of the Home
03:08 – Arrival and Spatial Journey
04:24 – Materials and Atmosphere
06:17 – Reflections on Place
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Photography by Pablo Veiga.
Architecture by Shaun Lockyer Architects.
Interior styling by Fiona Dunin.
Build by DB Build.
Landscape design by Green Care Project.
Filmed by The Local Production.
Edited by HN Media.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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