HOME / MORNINGTON PENINSULA
Escape Route
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HOME / MORNINGTON PENINSULA
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hen this family leaves the chaos of cosmopolitan life for their quiet beach house on the Mornington Peninsula, the effect is palpable. ‘As soon as we step out of the car and smell the salty air, we’re overcome with a resounding sense of calm. I don’t think this feeling will ever get old,’ says the owner, who instantly fell in love with the coastal shire’s relaxed attitude and sense of community. Fortuitously, the builders of their renovated Melbourne home, Fleet Constructions, had also made a sea change, and from the outset there was a commitment to engaging regional makers, craftspeople and subcontractors in an effort to support the local economy.
about strong silhouettes and shadows, with the secondary house’s shape providing both a sculptural and practical element by letting natural light into the central hallway,’ says the owner. Given that the structure is relatively simple, the owners sought out a professional to ‘take it to the next level’. Interior architect Cassie JamesHerrick was thus called on to execute the colour palette, joinery and soft furnishings, which she did in comforting milky-cream and subtle tones. ‘Materials were kept economical, consistent and practical, but we used them in interesting ways,’ James-Herrick says, in reference to the custom hardware like leather-wrapped handles and curved oak versions made in Tasmania.
Sustainable design and building company The Sociable Weaver oriented the building to maximise light and warmth in the cooler months while still performing well in the peak of summer. Solar panels and a 30,000-litre underground water tank were installed in addition to external blinds on the western facade. At 220 square metres on a 4,000-square-metre block, the home’s design is the result of what the owners describe as a ‘conscious decision not to create more than needed’. A sense of place was of utmost importance, and the home is intended to sit discreetly within its surrounds. Uniquely Australian and reflective of its geography, silvertop ash cladding was specified for its propensity to age well over time and blend in with the environment.
‘The brief was to create a tranquil rural retreat for the client’s young family while also accommodating their love of entertaining and hosting. The fireplace is key to ensuring a cosy ambience when the Victorian weather decides to throw out four seasons in one day,’ the designer explains. ‘And they wanted a secondary living space that their children could make their own while still feeling connected to the central, open-plan zone.’
The owners were intent on a pitched roof from the start, so the architecture developed into a house-within-a-house concept. ‘It became
Aside from the fireplace, the home’s design does indeed embrace year-round socialising, with a double-pitched roofline extending outwards from the north-facing rear, cantilevering over a generous entertaining deck outfitted with commercial-grade infra-red heaters. As JamesHerrick notes, ‘It’s perfect for sipping tea on cold mornings and drinking wine with friends as the sun goes down.’
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Text Carli Philips Images Ben Hosking
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