WILDCOAST
PORTSEA, VICTORIA
Within a deep recessive void an oversized timber door opens to present a soft, welcoming underbelly of winter beach tones and a sense of calm. Wildcoast offers refuge, a place of timeless well-crafted interiors and select fine furniture beautifully set against the wind-swept sand dunes and evocative coastal landscape.
Wildcoast is a new dwelling situated on the sand dunes on a Melbourne back beach. Inspired by the evocative coast line its materials and forms are inspired by its immediate context. Bunkered in; Wildcoast aims to protect from prevailing conditions whilst offering platforms to embrace its immediate and broader dynamic context.
During early design iterations a decision was made to horizontally offset the first floor living zone from the ground floor bedroom wing rather than stacking them vertically in a more economical manner. This additional cost was balanced by reducing floor area, but seen as a win in creating a natural protective zone to the exposed living spaces.
The spatial arrangement, orientation, views and the onerous site-specific height and setback requirements were all strong drivers during the design process, producing long extruded north facing living spaces that are defined by furniture and joinery not walls. The ground floor bunkers in with bedrooms thumped deep into the dunes, the floating first floor living zone takes in the spectacular views and acts as the command station overseeing all activities.
Refuge at Wildcoast is about creating a calm sense of place that provides opportunities for memories to be created, it resists complication and presents the contrary to a busy city life. The effort and rigour involved in details like the alignment of; light fittings with joinery, concrete patterns with door handles and tap fittings with tile layouts had to be seen but not heard.
A restrained material selection reduces noise and allows specific details to shine. Random patterns of stained timber battens against white sand joinery, celebrate a beautiful imperfection and mimic driftwood awash on the shore.
Spaces do not compete, designed to connect seamlessly allowing natural movement along the North facing axis. There is a conscious connection to the external spatial program, both visual and physical relationships are formed between the users at various locations and levels; the umpire lounging on the first-floor sofa calls “40 - Love”.
STATUS
Completed 2018
TYPE
Residential
SERVICES
Concept Design, Design Development, Full Documentation, Material, Finshes & Lighitng Specifications, Contract Administration, Consultant Coordination.
AWARDS
2018 Building Design Awards Winner - Excellence in Use of Concrete
2018 Building Design Awards Commendation
New House: Over $1M Construction Cost
Residential Interior Design
Most Innovative Bathroom Design
PHOTOGRAPHY