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Project by
Location
Mount Martha, Victoria
Year of completion
2015
Building plans
1211_Presentation Plan_GRD_ff_a3

Designed for a semi-retired couple [plus their whippet, Monty] and completed in December 2015, this three-bedroom house in Mount Martha provides a private haven to entertain guests that engages with the surrounding trees and bay views.

The notion of a ‘weekender’ evokes images of architectural simplicity and isolation where owners can escape their weekday life and reconnect with themselves and their environment.

Typically found in landscape-rich sites [think sand dunes, woodlands, rolling hills, etc] with the view “just there”; our challenge was to create this sense of retreat on a large but essentially suburban corner block in Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula. The inherent nature of the site was that whilst heavily treed and embedded in nature, the greatest connection to the view was only going to be made at first-floor level.

Within the confines of a relatively simple brief, the house evolved around our clients love of food, wine and entertaining [as well as a sophisticated and extensive wine collection] tempered by their wish to be private and self-contained when guests are staying. This duality expresses itself in both the planning and the materiality of the house, and informed the initial architectural gestures when the design process began.

The first of these was to pull the house as far into the corner of the site as possible, screening the rest of the block from neighbours and, being the high point, maximizing opportunities for the views across Port Phillip Bay towards the Melbourne CBD. The added benefit of this was to create a compact building footprint that scribes the edge of a large informal, native garden connected to the house via a long covered terrace stepping down to the lawn – a space to sit and take in the land as it falls away from the house.

The journey through the house takes visitors along a timber-clad wall punctuated by slot windows framing views to the garden. The interior scheme of the ground floor reflects the formal materiality – solid, grounded concrete terraces and rendered block balanced with polished-concrete screed floors and charcoal coloured ceilings. This broodiness is punctuated by the organic shape of the green rendered cellar – a shot of colour repeated throughout the house. Floor to ceiling windows beyond draw diffuse light into the entry emphasizing the shape and texture of the cellar walls.

Arriving at the top of the stairs, the ceiling rakes up and away – opening up the first views over Port Phillip Bay. This floor is where the majority of daily life occurs.

It was important that the end result reflected the aspirations of the client more than the whim of the designer. Australian entertaining is easy and welcoming in these spaces. This is a house that has been designed to align with the day-to-day routines and nuances of our client’s in mind – one that can open up to accommodate a large cocktail party or close down for the two of them [and their dog] to enjoy a glass of wine in front of the fire in the middle of July.

Bryant Alsop Architects
Victoria
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The house sits high on the block maximizing its northern outlook, and enveloped within a natural landscape that will grow organically and blur with the ti-tree surrounds.
The solid timber cladding of the lower floor provides a base for the open air balcony above.
Up-lit timber walls lead guests into the darker, moodier, lower floor.
The interior scheme of the ground floor reflects the formal materiality – solid, grounded concrete terraces and rendered block balanced with polished-concrete screed floors and charcoal coloured ceilings. This broodiness is punctuated by the organic shape of the green rendered cellar – a shot of colour repeated throughout the house.
Large glazed sliding panels enable the living spaces to fully open onto the terrace enhancing the feeling that you are in the “treetops”.
The dark veneer continues across the end wall of the Dining Room incorporating a large pivot door to the Master Suite and a concealed study nook – the green carpet of the bedroom echoing the cellar below.
The Kitchen and Dining spaces strike a balance between sophisticated and relaxed entertaining.
Expansive north-facing windows bring abundant natural light into the upper level with the light oak floorboards connecting to the teak decking. From the first floor ‘apartment’ our clients can both engage with their treetop environment and remain private from the passing world.
The northern outlook to sea and trees is enjoyed from the Kitchen across the dining area, and most importantly from a large entertaining deck – connecting completely with the client’s original brief.
The Kitchen, as was the cellar, was central to the owner’s passion for food and wine. A dark timber veneer cabinetry ‘island’ sits behind the island bench and conceals a generous walk in pantry and storage area behind. Integrated fridges, and dark glass appliances allow this element to recede as a backdrop the bright white island bench.
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The Ensuite takes advantage of tree top views, and like the Powder Room utilizes soft, textured wall tiles and minimal white fittings.
At the mid-point landing of the stairs is a small powder room.
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About the
Professional

Bryant Alsop delivers carefully considered, intelligent, projects for our clients. Each project is personal and unique.

Our work spans residential, education, and commercial sectors, and is underpinned by a belief that architecture should be uplifting, beautiful and honest. We are committed to achieving carefully considered design solutions and are committed to fully delivering the complete project to our clients.

Buildings grow and evolve with time. It is important that a building engages with the landscape, and that the two are viewed in unison. Similarly, much attention is given to interior spaces and as such, we offer a specialised interior design service with the expertise to offer full interior design services.

Bryant Alsop offers a highly-personalised approach, based on developing strong working relationships with our clients. We believe that a collaborative approach is necessary for successful design results that speak both of the client's desires, our architectural ideas and the project context.

Bryant Alsop works closely with our clients to ensure that their needs and desires are at the core of every project.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.