Bunker House by innovative design and build company Futureflip is a perfect example. This spectacular beachfront property nestles into the hillside at Gerringong on New South Wales’ south coast, offering guests sweeping sea views and the knowledge that everything they need is literally at their fingertips.

The home with everything

Bunker House is the creation of Futureflip founding director Neil Hipwell. Built as a sustainable luxury escape for Neil’s family and friends, it combines PDL smart home automation with energy efficiency to create a home where every comfort has been considered — from full climate control, to an outdoor entertaining system and even an EV car charger.

The ocean-front home has a raw, stripped-back look that belies its luxurious interior. Its stone and concrete construction echoes the war-time bunkers dotted along the coast and contributes to the passive solar design principles that are a hallmark of Futureflip builds.

Complex features

Set across three levels, the home’s complex features include a media room, intercom, indoor/outdoor audio system, steam room, heated pool, irrigation, air con and underfloor heating, automated blinds, shutters and windows, and security cameras.

With so many elements, Neil wanted the property to be simple to use for anyone who stayed there, especially as it is also available to rent. “I wanted everything to be controlled off my phone and off the screens throughout the house. If my parents are here and they don’t know how to do something, I want to be able to do it for them from wherever I am.”

Charge it up

The energy efficient approach to Bunker House encompasses its building materials through to the addition of solar panels and rainwater storage, as well as the smart home automation to eliminate excessive energy use. A Schneider Electric EVlink Home charging station on the driveway completes the picture.

Tom Ryan says that the rapid growth in EV ownership has seen a surge in demand for residential EV chargers, and installing the EVlink Home charger for guests at Bunker House really enhances the property’s offering. “Guests can jump in their car, head to Bunker House and recharge throughout their stay without having to worry about finding public charging stations.”

The joys of quality time

With such a complex property, it’s reassuring for Neil to know that his  home automation system lets him check on any aspect of the home from wherever he is in the world — easily staying on top of maintenance, energy usage, and security.

He says that Bunker House and its features have been life-changing. “For us as busy people, hanging out with friends isn’t like it used to be. With Bunker House, it’s created a place for us to enjoy quality time with our friends and family, which is something we didn’t have before — it’s created a whole new dimension of life.”