Township Residence

Year 2020 State Victoria City Sorrento Photographer Derek Swalwell Builder Smith Builders Located on a sloped linear site, just on one block back from the Sorrento Ocean Beach Reserve, The Township Residence was conceived as a coastal escape which responds to the local site heritage, topography and landscape. The floorplan not only integrally considers orientation and cross ventilation, but is primarily arranged around a sublime twin-trunked Moonah tree. This giant of a tree, anchors and informs a courtyard, providing an outdoor retreat with a sense of refuge and privacy for the rear wing of the. Almost independent, this rear portion of the house is capable of being shut off for those parts of the year when visitors are not expected. Sharing an immediate street scape with the Sorrento Whitehall, the project could not resist referencing, and subtly tipping-its-hat to some of the more timeless Federation touches. In particular a deep verandah with the arched screen openings, translated albeit in a contemporary expression. Symmetry in this case has been purposefully abandoned. Not quite old – at the same time, not quite new. With the main living areas located at the northern street frontage, the deep screened verandah plays the dual role of providing a layer of privacy, all the while shading and dappling the hot late afternoon westerly sun. In true beach house vernacular, weatherboards and battens are painted white. And, apart from the local dry stack stone walls experienced in the main living room and double storey void, the material palette sees little extravagance and fuss. Township Residence is home to a relaxed beach-side lifestyle. Where everyday feels like a holiday.