By Hall Studio
A beloved family coastal home for the last thirty years, this art-collecting client needed a home to facilitate the upcoming thirty years, as an eventually less infrequent residence. Nestled into the coastline of Portsea, and overlooking incredible vistas to the ocean beyond, priority was around maximising the homes’ connection to its location, along with being the conduit for an expression of the client’s passion for the Arts.
Retaining portions of the existing build, as a nod to the nostalgic familiarity of the previous family vacation times, the new build involved an entirely new floor plan and formal approach to aspect. An additional basement was carved out at the base, to allow for amenity and ease of access to be incorporated, with an additional cellar, lift and caretaker’s apartment.
On approach, the ground level is envisioned as a gallery space, with deliberate curated views through to the landscaped areas and the bay beyond. The stair is designed as an Art Box and a feature sculptural element that houses a particular piece of art. It is also intended to allow for future integration of additional pieces and exhibition.
The upper level then houses facilitates bedrooms, the family kitchen and various living spaces. Timber flooring and key sculptural elements throughout create a fusion between the warmth of a more permanent residential home, and a space for exhibiting and entertaining. Together with the hidden garden, reminiscent of a Spanish Alhambra garden, the Portsea home is rooted in a sense of connection – to the land, the sea, its history and its future.
Project Type: Residential
Location: Portsea, VIC
Project Size: 892sqm
Completion: 2017
Designer: Hall Studio
Architect: Kathie Hall (FKA) and Hall Studio
Builder: Shielcon Group
Hall Studio is a collective of design-driven individuals that aims to create elevated sensory spaces through experience. With art (in all its guises) as muse, the underpinning of the studios’ work is a meticulous attention to detail and an expansive exploration of ideas and opportunities through concept. Inventive and constantly questioning, the design process is led by founding director, Kathie Hall, whose vast industry expertise is testament to the dedication of rigor of each project.
The practice is underpinned by its background in Architecture and Interiors, where a holistic approach to understanding context and appropriateness is applied in each case. Spanning portfolios of Cultural Spaces, Galleries, Hospitality, Hotels, Private Residential, Multi-Residential, Commercial and minor alterations, every project is seen as a new untold design opportunity. The practice is well-versed on all stages of the project lifecycle, and regularly engages in concept and ideation, construction and detailed documentation, through to project management and hand-over on site.
Through a combined sense of enthusiasm, and an excitement of the endless possibilities through design, Hall Studio sees themselves as the conduit to better spaces. Their experience in varied solutions to spaces, with an array of exciting international and local clients, forms the foundations of the studio. Through a process of considered and analytical methodologies, the team works to their client’s objectives to create sophisticated articulated built works. Hall Studio offers full Architectural and Interior services: Concept Design, Design Development, Documentation, Styling Furniture Procurement, Project Management and Design Advisory services.