Tag Archives: Mornington Peninsula

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos

Architecture: Peninsula House, Victoria, Australia

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The Local Project (December 26, 2023) – Nestled into the landscape of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and overlooking the ocean, Peninsula House by Carr is a hidden coastal home that inspires a sense of awe and immersion, all thanks to the encompassing landscape.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Hidden Coastal Home 01:34 – A Two Part Brief 02:28 – Experiencing The Layout of the Home 03:20 – An Expanding Floor Plan 04:12 – The Simplified Yet Rural Material Palette 05:39 – Seasonal Changes Influencing Feelings

Peninsula House has a dual purpose: to serve as a space for showcasing the client’s art collection and to become a home that would be both cosy for two occupants and able to welcome visiting guests and family with ease. Considering the placement of the hidden coastal home, with the site exposed to the challenging weather patterns of the Bass Strait, the architecture and intimate interior design were significantly influenced by the prevailing climate conditions. “We wanted to create cosy spaces that feel protected so inhabitants could retreat,” says Lucy Cuthbertson, Associate at Carr and project architect for Peninsula House.

To shield itself from powerful winds, the house nestles into the landscape, strategically incorporating outdoor spaces positioned to receive protection from the elements. Access to the hidden coastal home is through an undulating carriageway, guiding visitors to a picturesque courtyard. Continuing through a long hallway, one encounters a glass wall that frames breathtaking views of the natural surrounds. Peninsula House features a central spine that serves as an art gallery and a formal axis for the house. The public entry is through the art gallery, and this dual access is important for maintaining privacy and facilitating movement.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Mid-Century Modern: Merricks House Tour

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The Local Project (October 6, 2023) – Merricks House is a mid-century modern home that presents a bold response to a rural site in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula – a coastal, countryside oasis.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Mid-Century Modern House 00:45 – The Perks of Building Your Own Home 01:29 – A Rural Area 01:53 – A Simple Family Focused Brief 02:30 – A Walkthrough of the Home and the Elements 03:32 – Bringing the Outside In 04:04 – Compromising on Light 05:04 – Simple and Well-Thought Out Details 05:47 – Caring for the Landscape 06:39 – A Successful Outcome

Sitting on the edge of a forest, Aktis Architects works alongside the challenges presented by the site and a linear arrangement of spaces, creating an equally robust yet elegant farm home that connects and contrasts the quintessential Australian landscape it sits within. Built for the Director of Lexicon Constructions, the brief called for a mid-century modern family house that was linear in form and worked to encapsulate a strong sense of togetherness.

Approaching the mid-century modern home, one is met with a modest elevation composed of two raking roofs, each perched above a masonry box. A gravel driveway meanders through dense planting to arrive at a porte cochère lined with vertical timber cladding. The house tour reveals a linear arrangement of spaces inside, so the need for circulation areas and corridors is redundant. The concrete frame structure is defined by a geometric architecture, whilst circular windows contrast the geometry of the home and add a sense of playfulness.

Architecture, Home Design, Homes, Tours, Videos, Views

Melbourne Architecture: A Tour Of ‘Somers House’

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The Local Project – (March 17, 2023) – Located on the Mornington Peninsula, Somers House is a dream home that enjoys close proximity to the beach and the native coastal landscape. Crafted by Kennedy Nolan, the house presents both sustainability and accessibility as a design priority, embodying the concept of a coastal retreat and playing into the experience of the unique Australian biome.

Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Coastal Retreat 00:37 – The Importance of Accessibility and Sustainability 01:12 – A Weather Responsive Home 01:34 – A Private and Hidden Retreat 01:59 – Abstract and Composed Facade 02:24 – Easy and Hidden Accessibility 02:58 – Amanda Oliver – Long-Term Collaborator 03:38 – The Details and Materials 04:10 – Proud Moments

Responding to its beachfront location, Somers House provides residents with a sense of protection from the strong, salty winds, creating opportunities for them to comfortably watch changing weather roll in from multiple vistas. The design brief detailed a dream home in which architecture and interior design work in unison to embrace the changing seasons, welcoming in the warm weather and sealing off from the cold.

Externally, Somers House engages the imagination of onlookers whilst revealing little of the true nature of its interiority. A large, shallow arch forms a cave into which cars can be parked and the abstract architecture of the dream home enhances the sense of privacy afforded to its residents. The red ochre colour of the exterior is intended to reference the colours of the earth and both grounds the home and allows it stand out among the colours of the surrounding flora.

A house tour of the dream home instantly reveals the ways in which accessibility has been considered. Wheelchair access is ensured across all three levels and the bathrooms are especially designed in order to establish maximum levels of comfort. Sliding doors allow residents access to the fresh coastal air and draw the sound of the sea into the home. Precise detailing solidifies the status of Somers House as a dream home.

The presentation of each fireplace is refined and sophisticated, reflecting the client’s interest in craftmanship. A sustainable material palette of concrete, steel, timber, stone and brass allows for a multi-faceted tactile experience to take place across the home. Representing the complete realisation of an idea, Somers House forms a compelling response to its beachfront location. An accessible coastal retreat, the dream home is a testament to the ability of Kennedy Nolan to be led by both client and site.