Written by Kerryn Caulfield, Executive Director, Composites Australia Inc.
The Boathouse was built as a holiday home for the Vikingur family, founders of Vikal International, a luxury boat building firm based in a quiet industrial estate just 20 minutes south of Perth. Lynden Vikingur, his father and company founder Gunnar, and their team utilise traditional trade crafts and quality finishes, precision engineering, sophisticated design, high-tech electronics and advanced materials to produce some of the world’s most luxurious and bespoke tenders for its global clients. “Every tender is a unique, upmarket multifunctional workhorse,” says Lynden. “We combine custom-built hulls and interiors made with traditional quality, using non-corrosive finishes to withstand the marine environment. These same principles were applied in the design and construction of the Boathouse.”
The family engaged award-winning Perth architect Andrew Boyne to design a low-maintenance, single level family holiday home with a protected outdoor living area and a minimalist approach to interior aesthetics with “quality and marine durability” as the primary focus. In contrast to a market where separate living spaces are prized in new homes, the Vikingur brief emphasised conversation and family activities, enhancing the feeling of escape from urban life. “We had access to one of the world’s most experienced and comprehensive boat-building facilities just four hours up the highway to build a family home in a dream location. We also had the freedom to specify high performance marine materials, “Andrew said.
Building off-site offers numerous benefits, such as reduced construction time, a controlled manufacturing environment and improved quality control. However, it also faces limitations, particularly with transportation by truck, which influenced the design.
The house’s design features two east/west-oriented wings, each with a prow cantilevered for privacy and joined by a communal deck reminiscent of a catamaran. The three prefabricated units were designed around trucking sizes of 5.5 metres wide and 13 metres long. A lifetime of marine crafting dictated that the structure be impermeable to the marine environment in which salt compromises materials and, eventually, structural integrity. .
The boat theme is carried through the interiors, with loose furniture kept to a minimum, built-in upholstery in the living areas and acres of vinyl wrapped cabinetry, much like a boat.
Air leakage was a significant concern in achieving high thermal performance in a low thermal mass house. The need to prevent corrosion caused by wind driven sea spray further underscored the importance of an airtight building.
The boat theme is carried through the interiors, with loose furniture kept to a minimum, built-in upholstery in the living areas and acres of vinyl wrapped cabinetry, much like a boat.
Air leakage was a significant concern in achieving high thermal performance in a low thermal mass house. The need to prevent corrosion caused by wind driven sea spray further underscored the importance of an airtight building. An extremely airtight building envelope was achieved using boat-building techniques such as high-strength marine-grade construction silicone-based adhesive, fibre-glassed joints and thorough marine-type caulking.
Structural Insulated Panel Systems (SIPS) were used for all walls, floors and roof. These lightweight panels, featuring an internal layer of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), contribute minimal thermal mass to the building while offering insulating and acoustic properties combined with fast construction and site adaptability. The interior walls are made from slightly thinner SIPS panels, which have an insulation R-value of 2.9 that effectively renders each room as a thermally isolated box. This allows for individual heating or cooling of rooms, significantly improving energy efficiency. Passive heating is prioritised for rooms likely to be occupied, with a floor plan ensuring good sun exposure and effective cross ventilation.
The house’s roof was both fibre glassed and gel coated to future-proof against environmental elements such as UV rays, saltwater and moisture. “Given its composite construction, we were concerned about the lightweight nature of the cantilevered roof and had to throw a couple of tonnes of rocks on the roof to help anchor it,” Lynden quipped.
As a temperature-controlling measure, all windows are argon-filled double-glazed with a Low-E coating to minimise energy loss and condensation on windows when humidity levels are high. Fixed glass is direct glazed without framing to eliminate thermal bridges, while operable windows are framed with jarrah for better thermal performance. Argon glass, a highly energy-efficient solution, fills the cavity between the two panes with argon gas, enhancing insulation and reducing noise. They require no maintenance, as the gas does not leak or need refilling. Window flashings and roof fascias are finished in seamless welded copper profiles chosen for their durability in the marine environment.
The seamless runs of shiplap pine, scarfed using traditional boat-building techniques, prevent water ingress and present as simple horizontal runs referencing the original fishing shacks in the region. Andrew explains the experience: “To illustrate the perfectionism that embodied the whole building experience, the pedestrian gate, installed as a durable child-safe measure, was crafted from carbon fibre in the factory by master artisans, showcasing its characteristic high-lustre finish.”
VIKAL MODULAR
While the Boathouse symbolises the fusion of traditional quality and advanced marine craftsmanship to build a functional family retreat, it also became the genesis for Vikal Modular, a sister company that also operates from the Bibra Lake facility. Through Vikal Modular, the team is reinterpreting traditional domestic housing construction with a unique approach. Lynden explains, “Prefabricated construction offers numerous advantages, including reduced construction time, greater quality control and a controlled manufacturing environment that also reduces waste making it more sustainable.” We’ve drawn heavily from our maritime building techniques to create cost-effective, weather-resistant housing. With most of our trades conducted in-house, we’ve made significant investments in building one-off luxury products on schedule. This includes rapid prototyping via 3D printing and a 4x4m 5-axis gantry-based CNC machine. Our process is far more efficient than the traditional model that employs all trades on an external building site.” Vikal Modular offers bespoke construction and customised layouts along with luxurious amenities. Its off-the-shelf range includes homes and granny flats with sustainable architecture and design across three standard plans and new custom designs. It also provides complete relocation services if there is a wish to move the dwelling to a new site or location.
