When Hayden Cox built his dream home in Palm Beach, he set out to create a space that captured the essence of coastal living while integrating his passion for craftsmanship and sustainability. Designed in collaboration with his wife, Danielle Cox, Alaïa Palm Beach is a layered and expressive residence that sits proudly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. With panoramic views stretching from Pittwater to Barrenjoey Headland and Bouddi National Park, the home was envisioned as a calm, restorative retreat – an architectural response to both its steep site and relaxed surroundings.
Initially, the couple hoped to retain the original 1950s cottage on the property. But once construction began, it became clear that the structure was no longer viable. What followed was a complete reimagining of the home – rooted in the same footprint but designed anew. In the process, Hayden didn’t just build a house; he built his dream home from the ground up, embedding his personal values into every material, detail and spatial experience.
Known for his innovative work with Haydenshapes surfboards, Hayden approached the design with a material-first philosophy. Discarded EPS foam and fibreglass offcuts from his surfboard production were repurposed into elements of the home’s interior architecture – appearing in the staircase, fireplace and breakfast nook seating. These tactile inclusions speak not only to sustainability but to the handmade, the imperfect and the deeply personal. It’s here, in these thoughtful decisions, that Hayden truly built his dream home in a way that reflects his craft and creativity.
Across four levels, Alaïa is planned to mirror the rhythms of daily life – active, social and restorative. The lower level houses a pool retreat with an outdoor kitchen, bar and rainwater-fed shower rooms, while a subterranean wellness zone offers an infrared sauna, ice bath and Pilates space. Designed for long beach days and quiet evenings alike, this is where Hayden built his dream home to support the lifestyle he and his family value most.
As you move upward, the heart of the home opens into a light-filled living, dining and kitchen area. Skylights filter natural light into the space throughout the day, and a custom breakfast nook looks east toward the ocean, inviting quiet morning rituals. Neutral tones and natural textures provide a backdrop for curated objects and surfboards, merging functional family living with considered design.
On the upper level, the primary suite and two bedrooms spill out into a tranquil garden framed by a mature paperbark gum. Every surface and junction has been crafted with care – including the hand-shaped exterior render, a subtle nod to Hayden’s background in surfboard shaping. In every sense, he built his dream home to reflect the beauty of place and the spirit of family.
00:00 – Introduction to a Creatives Dream Home
00:55 – Family Focused Brief
01:15 – Interesting Material Palette
02:34 – Walkthrough and Layout of the Home
05:24 – Material Palette Continued
06:17 – Proud Moments
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Photography by Anson Smart.
Architecture and interior design by Hayden and Danielle Cox.
Build by Beaches Building.
Styling by Claire Delmar.
Filmed by The Local Production.
Edited by Cadre.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Palm Beach, NSW, 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.
#Built #DreamHome #Creative
