Glass Tree House, MacMaster's Beach, Australia

Situated at MacMaster’s Beach on the north central coast of New South Wales, this glass tree house is designed to make the most of its stunning coastal forest location. In order to maintain both the external appearance of the building and views of the ocean, architect Malcolm Carver specified Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass. This has not only minimised the cleaning requirements, but also kept the glazed façade in pristine condition, despite the harsh marine and woodland environment.

It was designed to maximise the sea view, blend into the environment and have minimal impact on the trees surrounding the site. The isolated site is in an extensive and natural coastal bushland environment adjoining Bouddi National park, one hour north of Sydney. The theme of the development is contemporary, with an open floor plan design and expansive windows to capture vistas and eliminate barriers between inside and outside.

For the external finishes, it was particularly important to minimise painting costs and window cleaning/accessibility costs. The solution was a galvanised finish for the structural steel frame and Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass for the windows.

The fully glazed beach house is fitted with Pilkington Activ™ self cleaning glass throughout the lower and upper floor plans. Architect Malcolm Carver describes the performance of the glass as “phenomenal”: “We have never had to clean it, even though we are right by the ocean with its salt laden winds and mist. There is also the debris and sap falling from the surrounding eucalyptus, along with bird
droppings and other soiling, but the first rain shower along strips it all as clean as a whistle – it always looks as if the window cleaner has just left!”