Who doesn’t love to escape to the beach? Whether they’re for holidays or full-time living, architecturally designed beach houses have a laid-back, beachy quality that’s hard not to love.

Instead of getting sand in your pants, check out the stunning beach houses we've featured on Lunchbox Architect from the comfort of your study:

Bimbadeen House by Lachlan Shepherd Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Bimbadeen House by Lachlan Shepherd Architects
Featured Project You'd Never Know How Close the Neighbours Are in This Bush Hideaway A clever design captures bush views and sunlight and turns away from the neighbours so you feel like you're in a world of your own...
Yandandah Road House by ITN Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Yandandah Road House by ITN Architects
Featured Project A Multi-generational Beach House for Relaxed Beachside Living This beach house is all about creating informal living spaces, decks and shelter from the sun and wind for optimum beachside living.
Mass and Void by Sparks Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Mass and Void by Sparks Architects
Featured Project This Home Stands Out in Its Housing Estate for All the Right Reasons Even a block in a typical housing estate can benefit from an architect's touch, creating a home that's a joy to live in year-round...
North Bondi House by Josephine Hurley Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect) North Bondi House by Josephine Hurley Architecture
Featured Project Location, Location, Location. And, Now, the Other Three Ls... This 1980s-era home already had a stellar location. Thanks to an internal reno, it has everything else you'd want in a home, too...
Driftwood by  (via Lunchbox Architect) Driftwood by
Featured Project A Beach House That Feels Private Without Missing the Views A beach house doesn't need to feel like a glass box on stilts, this home feels intimate while still celebrating the views.
Clovelly by Modscape (via Lunchbox Architect) Clovelly by Modscape
Featured Project Six Prefabricated Modules Create a Forever Home With an Ocean View Designed to make the most of the view, even from the backyard, this prefab modular home is like a viewing scope towards the ocean.
ALB/ by PLY Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect) ALB/ by PLY Architecture
Featured Project Beach House Maximises the Views Despite a Narrow Frontage Some clever solutions mean even a home on a long, narrow block can capture scenic, wraparound views of the ocean.
Torquay House by buck&simple (via Lunchbox Architect) Torquay House by buck&simple
Featured Project A Beach House Designed for Everyone From Singles up to Groups of 20 This flexible beach house is the perfect surf trips big and small because it's focussed on the outdoors to create extra living space.
Dearie Residence by OMG Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Dearie Residence by OMG Architects
Featured Project Mid-century Modern House Senstively Updated for 21st Century Living An addition to this mid-century gem keeps the essence of the original while ensuring it's fit for family life in this century.
Dorman Beach House by Studio101 Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Dorman Beach House by Studio101 Architects
Featured Project Beach House Uses Its Steeply Sloping Site to Focus and Frame Views Using the slope to its advantage, this beach house cascades down the hill and focuses your attention on the stunning coastline views.
House MT by Kart Projects (via Lunchbox Architect) House MT by Kart Projects
Featured Project Rather Than Open Plan, Why Not Go for Connected Plan Instead? This retired couple wanted an intimate home for themselves, but what happens when extended family visit? Enter the 'connected plan'...
Seachange House by Solomon Troup Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Seachange House by Solomon Troup Architects
Featured Project Real-life Seachange Gives Retirees a Chance to Create a New Lifestyle These retirees packed up their life in Western Victoria to move to Barwon Heads. What lifestyle would you want out of a seachange?
Wickham Point House by Arcke Architecture and Interior Design (via Lunchbox Architect) Wickham Point House by Arcke Architecture and Interior Design
Featured Project Beach House Renovation Has a Minimalist Touch But Maximalist Results Can you have too many beds at a family beach house? A reno retains the character of this beloved beach house but maximises flexibility.
Hart House by Casey Brown Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect) Hart House by Casey Brown Architecture
Featured Project This Modern Australian Beach House Feels Like It's Floating on Water This stunning modern Australian beach house has a whole wall of glass, taking in spectacular views of the beach and headland beyond.
Apollo Bay House by Dock4 Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect) Apollo Bay House by Dock4 Architecture
Featured Project New Spaces Draped Around an Original Cedar-lined Shack Like a Tent A new asymmetrical frame encloses the original shack, wrapping new living areas all around to take advantage of the views.
Stradbroke Dual Occupancy by Graham Anderson Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Stradbroke Dual Occupancy by Graham Anderson Architects
Featured Project Clever Siting of Two Beach Houses Allows Both Homes the Best View Running the two homes perpendicular to the street allows this dual occupancy design to maximise views and maintain privacy.
Avoca Weekender by Architecture Saville Isaacs (via Lunchbox Architect) Avoca Weekender by Architecture Saville Isaacs
Featured Project Home Robust Enough for the Kids With Luxurious Touches For the Adults This laid back holiday home is tough enough to cope with the kids yet luxurious: the perfect escape to create lifetime memories.
Hidden House by Andrew Child Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect) Hidden House by Andrew Child Architecture
Featured Project Hidden House: This Home Gives Little Away From the Street A private, yet light-filled coastal home is the perfect fit for a retired couple, with plenty of room for visitors.
Gavin Street Residence by POD (People Oriented Design) (via Lunchbox Architect) Gavin Street Residence by POD (People Oriented Design)
Featured Project How Much House Do You Need? How About the Least House Necessary? This environmentally-considerate home is carefully planned to ensure it's compact yet spacious: the least house necessary.
Tropical Beach House by Renato D'Ettorre Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Tropical Beach House by Renato D'Ettorre Architects
Featured Project Lock and Leave Tropical Hideaway Is a Perfect Escape for This Family This tropical home locks down when it's not being used, but when it's open, it embraces the natural landscape in every direction...
Skyline House by Lachlan Shepherd Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Skyline House by Lachlan Shepherd Architects
Featured Project A Home in a Bushfire-prone Area That Doesn't Feel Like a Bunker The clever design for this challenging site allows the home to deal with the threat of bushfire, while still taking in the views.
Bluebird Duplex by  (via Lunchbox Architect) Bluebird Duplex by
Featured Project Two New Townhouses for an Adventurous Architectural Photographer A creative design for two new townhouses defies many of the qualities of these types of developments to create bright and breezy homes.
South Melbourne Beach House by Topology Studio (via Lunchbox Architect) South Melbourne Beach House by Topology Studio
Featured Project A Light-filled Beach House Just Two Kilometres from the City? With an incredible site just one street from the beach and close to the city, these architects built their ideal family home.
Macmasters Beach House by buck&simple (via Lunchbox Architect) Macmasters Beach House by buck&simple
Featured Project This Modern Beach House Design Celebrates its Spectacular Location A modern beach house design replaces the ageing cottage on a property that has been in the family for over 50 years.
Surfmist House by Sandy Anghie Architect (via Lunchbox Architect) Surfmist House by Sandy Anghie Architect
Featured Project This Beachside Home Goes From Daggy and Confused to Surfmist Cool Friends said they were brave to buy their home. But who's laughing now after a breezy makeover transforms this 1970s hot mess.
First Lessons House by Ray Dinh Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect) First Lessons House by Ray Dinh Architecture
Featured Project Getting the Basics Right Helps Architect Nail His First Solo Project The careful siting of this new home helps it take full advantage of the sun and embrace a beautiful, bushy site.
Aireys Ramp House by Irons McDuff Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect) Aireys Ramp House by Irons McDuff Architecture
Featured Project This Beach House Wraps Around Itself to Protect from the Elements Living near the beach has its pros and cons. A great beach house needs to embrace the sunshine while protecting from cold ocean winds.
House Burch by Those Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) House Burch by Those Architects
Featured Project A Breezy Beach House Designed for Byron Bay's Sub-tropical Climate Sub-tropical climates require a special approach to design to ensure they are comfortable in the sticky summers and the cool winters.
Green Shutter House by OOF! Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Green Shutter House by OOF! Architects
Featured Project A Dour Old Post Office Finds Its Mojo As a Sunny Summer Beach House A house that was once a post office felt frustratingly disconnected from the outdoors has been transformed into a breezy beach house.
Burrill Lake House by Jost Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Burrill Lake House by Jost Architects
Featured Project This Classic Fibro Beach Shack is Updated for a Young Family This home holds special memories for the architect, Pat Jost, making it important to retain the elements that fill it with character.
Courtyard Deck House by ZGA Studio (via Lunchbox Architect) Courtyard Deck House by ZGA Studio
Featured Project A Courtyard Deck's the Perfect Way to Combine Old and New at This Home A decked courtyard connects this existing home and extension, providing light, breezes and an indoor-outdoor connection to old and new.
7 September 2018 (via Lunchbox Architect) 7 September 2018
Article Fibre Cement Houses: 5 Homes That Celebrate that Old Beach Shack Vibe We take a step back in time to find five homes which celebrate the beach shacks of the past by cladding themselves in fibre cement.
Blueys Beach House 5 by Bourne Blue Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect) Blueys Beach House 5 by Bourne Blue Architecture
Featured Project A Modern Take on the Traditional Fibro Beach Shack Beachside towns were once dotted with simple fibro beach shacks. This modern home reinterprets that classic style.
Dark Light House by MRTN Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Dark Light House by MRTN Architects
Featured Project A Small Addition Creates a Home Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts Light and dark, east and west, new and old, Dark Light House's new living pavilion contrasts without simply doing the opposite.
House 28 by Studio Edwards (via Lunchbox Architect) House 28 by Studio Edwards
Featured Project Shipping Container House Floats Among the Trees with Ocean Views We're all a little bit obsessed with shipping container houses. You'll understand why once you take a look at this home...
Durimbul by MGAO (via Lunchbox Architect) Durimbul by MGAO
Featured Project A New Breed of Bushfire Resistant Homes are Sprouting in Wye River After the bushfire of 2015, Wye River slowly rebuilds. Let's hope all the new homes are as beautiful and sympathetic as this one...
Riverwalk by Irons McDuff Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect) Riverwalk by Irons McDuff Architecture
Featured Project Modern Timber Beach House Still Achieves Bushfire and Energy Ratings Clever thinking achieves a simple timber beach house the client desired while still meeting bushfire and energy efficiency regulations.
26 January 2018 (via Lunchbox Architect) 26 January 2018
Article #CabinPorn: 7 of Australia's Best Huts, Shacks, Cabins and Retreats Sometimes people are dicks. Escape and Thoreau yourself into this collection of Australia's best huts, shacks, cabins and retreats...
Empire House by Lachlan Shepherd Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Empire House by Lachlan Shepherd Architects
Featured Project A Home Designed to Get Better With Age, Just Like Its Retiree Owners Precast concrete and timber combine to create a low-maintenance home that will get better with age.
Torquay House by Robert Troup Architect & My Architect (via Lunchbox Architect) Torquay House by Robert Troup Architect & My Architect
Featured Project An Urban Take on the Traditional Aussie Beach House in Torquay As Torquay becomes increasingly cosmopolitan with more permanent residents architects are rethinking the traditional Aussie beach house.
Court House by Peter Winkler Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Court House by Peter Winkler Architects
Featured Project A Courtyard Connects Living and Sleeping Areas at this Beach House Just a short walk from the beach and surrounded by Moona trees, a central courtyard is the link between this home and the landscape.
Dorman House by Austin Maynard Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Dorman House by Austin Maynard Architects
Featured Project A Beautiful Old Beach Shack Retains Its Classic Charms "There are too many beautiful old shacks being demolished, and Austin Maynard Architects won’t be part of it."
Mornington Beach Houses by Habitech Systems (via Lunchbox Architect) Mornington Beach Houses by Habitech Systems
Featured Project Beachside Homes Inspired by a Nearby Pier's Proportions and Detailing These two homes are built on a pier structure that highlights their unique creek-side location near the Mornington foreshore.
Clarke Shack by mishack (via Lunchbox Architect) Clarke Shack by mishack
Featured Project Holiday Shack Blends Mid Century Modern with Australian Rural Shed Inspired by Mid-century design with a touch of Aussie shed, this stylish shack is the perfect combination of cool and practical.
Bramasole by Herbst Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Bramasole by Herbst Architects
Featured Project This Home Is Grounded Into Its Site by Walls of Gabion Baskets A home set in an expansive garden is divided and sheltered into quadrants by cross-shaped Gabion baskets, creating a variety of spaces.
Riverside Alterations and Additions by Lachlan Shepherd Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Riverside Alterations and Additions by Lachlan Shepherd Architects
Featured Project Clever Renovation Creates New Building Over Bones of the Original Renovation uses half of the original roof structure to create a new raked roof and wraps the original fibro shack in new cladding.
The Whittaker Cube by Dravitzki Brown (via Lunchbox Architect) The Whittaker Cube by Dravitzki Brown
Featured Project A Smaller Home Allows for Immaculate Details and Rich Materials If you want the look and feel of luxury at your home, it pays to think a bit smaller and pay attention to the details.
The Whittaker Cube by Dravitzki Brown (via Lunchbox Architect) The Whittaker Cube by Dravitzki Brown
Domain House by Lachlan Shepherd Architects (via Lunchbox Architect) Domain House by Lachlan Shepherd Architects
Featured Project Choose Flexibility Over Footprint to Save Money and Energy With sliding doors and a fold down bed, a rumpus room/third bedroom provides built in flexibility while reducing the overall footprint.
Shoreham by Modscape (via Lunchbox Architect) Shoreham by Modscape