Amongst the Dunes

I look each day at incredible projects from all over the world, but always I get the most joy from seeing a stunning local project. This recently completed house in Blairgowrie on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is located just down the road from where I grew up, so its setting is my backyard and the landscape is one I know like the back of my hand. Wolveridge Architects, who are responsible for this residence, have taken the surroundings of sand dunes and coastal scrub of Moonah and tea tree and designed a home that is a sympathetic and modern articulation of the environment.
Moving past the ten black monoliths that form the open but private front fence there are a series of strong concrete forms that catch the eye and draw it toward the horizontally clad timber house. Moving across the front deck, the interior of the house is characterised by a mix of rich dark and cool light timbers with expressive grains that connect the house back with the adjoining land. Together with the charcoal ceiling and sparse furnishings, this robust house forms the perfect answer to this rugged landscape and makes me miss my home just a little bit more.

Story by Brendan Guy . To see more by Wolveridge Architects Photos courtesy of Wolveridge Architects