Sand Dune House (showcased on Grand Designs Australia)
The Sand Dune House, featured on Grand Designs Australia, presents a striking coastal form with its flowing, dune-like curves and natural materials. The design blends the home into the surrounding landscape and demonstrates how sustainable building practices and creative thinking can produce a truly distinctive result.
Inside, seven freestanding rammed earth walls divide the interior spaces and anchor a custom‑engineered laminated timber ring beam—one of several inventive structural systems developed for the project.
Near Inverloch on Victoria’s Gippsland coastline, the residence takes its shape from the natural form of a barchan sand dune. Its sweeping arc and extensive use of rammed earth created both aesthetic and technical challenges, especially in achieving long-term durability in a harsh coastal climate.
The coastal setting posed challenges, with salt-laden winds, heavy seasonal rainfall and high humidity. To address these conditions, the project team selected two Tech‑Dry treatments to safeguard the structure and ensure long-term durability:
Plasticure
Plasticure isa water‑repellent admixture that protects building materials from moisture damage. When added during construction, it forms a long‑lasting barrier that blocks moisture and helps prevent salt erosion, mould, and weathering. Builders can use it in cement‑stabilised rammed earth, pressed concrete blocks, concrete pavers, and other masonry products that need improved moisture resistance. Plasticure was applied during the mixing phase by StabilEarth, specialist contractors for rammed earth construction.
Earth Binder
Earth Binder is an acrylic-based sealer used to dust-seal and strengthen the internal or external surfaces of earth structures. Applied post-construction, it penetrates the surface to suppress dust and enhance abrasion resistance. It does this without noticeably changing the appearance of the walls or reducing the vapour permeability of the earth building.
The Sand Dune House highlights several considerations for professionals working in coastal or high-exposure environments:
- Material compatibility: Match penetrating sealers to the substrate’s permeability and the environmental conditions.
- Vapour permeability: Breathable treatments reduce the risk of trapped moisture and associated damage.
- Aesthetic preservation: Invisible finishes allow architectural surfaces to retain their intended appearance.
- Durability and maintenance: Protective treatments extend material lifespan and reduce long-term maintenance requirements.
Recognised for its architectural excellence, the Sand Dune House received the Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award from the Australian Institute of Architects. Tech‑Dry’s discrete contribution highlights the importance of material protection in achieving long-term performance and resilience in contemporary architecture.
To see the Sand Dune House in context, watch its feature on Grand Designs Australia here.