McCrae Bush House by Chan Architecture

McCrae Bush House

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Located on a long and sloping site along the Mornington Peninsula, the McCrae Bush house is a dwelling that was inspired by its unique surrounding context of native bushland and the close proximity of Port Phillip Bay. Perched on the highest point of the site towards the rear, the long steeply sloping driveway provides changing viewpoints as one approaches the building from the street. Once inside the assuming entrance, a modest timber staircase takes you to the elevated main living spaces which unveil the spectacular views of the water and surrounding bushland. The underlying principle of this project was to provide a simple, environmentally sensitive home that respected its’ surrounding context in terms of minimising the amount of site cut and tree clearing required whilst taking advantage of its’ elevated position and potential for views. As such the siting of the house and landscaping follows the natural grade of the land and was sited such that no significant trees needed to be removed from the site. The clients were also inspired by the colours and textures of the native bush and requested that the home provided opportunities for viewing and contemplation. The response to this was to thoroughly analyse the site during the design phase and identify those viewpoints which provided the most picturesque outlooks and quality of light. We then applied these viewpoints to the design and located glazing and openings precisely to frame these views once the house was completed. The minimalist meditation room downstairs was a separate space away from the rest of the house which received morning light via the long skylight onto the timber clad wall, with views out over the deck to the Zen rock garden providing opportunity for calmness and contemplation. The three bedrooms and two bathrooms were located upstairs to the rear for greater privacy. Sustainability was also an important principle of this project, from the extensive use of recycled red ironbark throughout with natural finishes all with low chemical content, to optimising orientation to capture the light, high performance glazing and utilization of natural ventilation throughout to minimise the amount of heating and cooling needed throughout the year. Photography: Tatjana Plitt Photography

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family house morington peninsula contemporary port phillip bay luxury homes

Project team

Chan Architecture
Tatjana Plitt

McCrae Bush House: A sustainable dwelling harmoniously integrated into the native bushland of the Mornington Peninsula, featuring elevated living spaces that capture stunning views of Port Phillip Bay while minimizing environmental impact.

The underlying principle of this project was to provide a simple, environmentally sensitive home that respected its’ surrounding context in terms of minimising the amount of site cut and tree clearing required whilst taking advantage of its’ elevated position and potential for views. As such the siting of the house and landscaping follows the natural grade of the land and was sited such that no significant trees needed to be removed from the site.

The clients were also inspired by the colours and textures of the native bush and requested that the home provided opportunities for viewing and contemplation. The response to this was to thoroughly analyse the site during the design phase and identify those viewpoints which provided the most picturesque outlooks and quality of light. We then applied these viewpoints to the design and located glazing and openings precisely to frame these views once the house was completed.

The minimalist meditation room downstairs was a separate space away from the rest of the house which received morning light via the long skylight onto the timber clad wall, with views out over the deck to the Zen rock garden providing opportunity for calmness and contemplation. The three bedrooms and two bathrooms were located upstairs to the rear for greater privacy.

Sustainability was also an important principle of this project, from the extensive use of recycled red ironbark throughout with natural finishes all with low chemical content, to optimising orientation to capture the light, high performance glazing and utilization of natural ventilation throughout to minimise the amount of heating and cooling needed throughout the year.

Photography: Tatjana Plitt Photography

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Professional Reviews

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“Simone and I want to formally thank you for our beautiful home. Since moving back "home" we have had numerous visitors to our house and they have all commented on how fantastic the design is. Unexpectedly numerous tradesmen completing the final touches have taken the time to make positive comments. But most importantly our family is happy and enjoying the final result. When we had our first meeting with you over two years ago our aspirations were naive. We wanted the best parts of our Edwardian house retained- the large front rooms and the high ceilings. Crucially we wanted a modern house to meet the needs of our young family for the next 20 years. One of main reasons that we chose to engage you at that meeting was that we felt you "got it". You listened and were open to our needs and idea. Throughout the next two years that calm, patient and responsive approach was repeatedly demonstrated. The Sketch Design, Design Development and Town Planning phase is now a distant memory but it was at this stage your organisation and attention to detail became apparent. At this stage it seemed that almost no idea or request from us was too hard or unreasonable. We felt very reassured that we were able to explore a variety of concepts to arrive at what is now a pleasurable house to live in. Your advice and support in choosing the fittings, finishes and materials made this process so much easier. You gave us the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions. When tendering your efforts in seeking a builder to work within our budget constraints ensured that the final design became a construction project. It is hard to believe that I considered doing the contract administration myself. Miriam and your ability to work with the builder has saved our sanity! I had no idea how complex joining an 80 year old house to a new extension and liaising with so many trades could be. Whenever a friend asked: "How is your renovation is going?" I replied: "I don't know what I would do without Chan Architecture." At our site meetings I was regularly impressed at your ability to work with the builder to solve problems as they arose. I was worried about cost blowouts but amazingly cost variations were kept to less than 3% of the total budget. I think key to managing all of this was the high level of accurate documentation and organisation. As I now know you minimised the builder queries and decisions required from us. The clear phone, email and personal communication minimised much of the stress for us. It seemed that at any time I could call with a query and either Miriam or yourself would patiently answer. All the organisation, good communication and attention to detail would be pointless if the final product wasn't what we wanted. After just a few weeks of living at home we are enjoying the creative ways you introduced natural light in our house. We love the way the old and new join together. The rooms flow together so that home is a pleasure to be in. The spectacular upstairs extension provides exactly the quiet parents retreat we desired. Your guidance of finishes means the internal looks calm and subdued. Whilst the external is already a pleasurable talking point in Abbotsford. I could go on but suffice to say we anticipate will still be enjoying the design and efforts of Anthony and Miriam and be for grateful for the services of Chan Architecture. We would be pleased to discuss any queries from prospective clients and if it is helpful show them the finished product.”

- Nicholson St House, Abbotsford