Imagine a home designed to embrace the wild Australian coast, not just withstand it! That's exactly what the architectural studio Splinter Society has achieved with their latest creation, Coastal House, nestled in the picturesque town of Ocean Grove, Victoria. This isn't just another house; it's a carefully crafted sanctuary that uses a warm, natural palette of materials like concrete, limestone, copper, and hardwood, all chosen to beautifully age and evolve with the challenging coastal environment.
This minimalist family home, originally conceived as a development project by a local builder, sits proudly on an elevated plot, offering breathtaking, south-facing ocean views. But here's where it gets clever: the design masterfully balances these expansive vistas with the need for privacy and protection for the home's private spaces.
To achieve this, Splinter Society ingeniously incorporated a courtyard on the western side. This serene space is embraced by a bedroom wing clad in a combination of hardwood and patinated copper panels. This thoughtful choice not only adds a unique aesthetic but also serves as a robust shield against the harsh, salt-laden sea winds. As Chris Stanley, director at Splinter Society, explained, "This house was very much about responding to context. It was about balancing the knockout southerly views over the ocean, whilst providing warm, north-facing protected spaces for a family to enjoy." He further emphasized the importance of the material selection, stating, "Of equal importance was creating a warm, natural palette that would age beautifully in this harsh coastal environment."
And this is the part most people miss: the entrance, facing the street, is quite a journey in itself. It's deep-set into a lower level clad in warm hardwood timber, guiding you through a passage that cleverly conceals garage and storage areas before leading you up a staircase to the main living spaces.
These upper-level living areas are housed within a striking, slightly cantilevering concrete volume. Here, a full-height glazed facade is artfully set within a deep, chamfered opening, ensuring those panoramic sea views are the star of the show. Inside, a rough limestone wall acts as a sophisticated divider between the living and dining areas, even extending outwards to form a distinctive pilaster above the entrance on the home's exterior.
Connecting the vibrant living spaces to the tranquil bedrooms is a central glazed corridor. This architectural feature offers a delightful outlook onto the home's central courtyard, which features a small swimming pool surrounded by a welcoming timber terrace.
What's truly fascinating is the collaborative spirit behind this project. Stanley shared, "Our client has a love of natural materials and a passion for purchasing auction timbers and milling them himself. With a strong local knowledge, he also understands the wind-driven salt environment and was keen to collaborate." This hands-on approach from the client clearly infused the project with a unique character.
Stanley also highlighted the home's street presence: "The house was designed to be quite minimal in execution to the street, and its simple form and natural palette allow it to be simultaneously bold, but also sensitive and recessive to its emerging dry climate landscape." This is a design that whispers rather than shouts, yet commands attention through its thoughtful integration with its surroundings.
For ultimate peace and quiet, the main bedroom and a rumpus room are strategically tucked away at the rear of the property. From here, they offer serene views of both the central courtyard and a charming strip of northern planting.
Splinter Society, based in Melbourne, is a dynamic architecture and interior design studio led by Chris Stanley and Asha Nicholas. Their portfolio boasts other remarkable projects, including a home designed for avid gardeners that maximized space and views for their plant collection, and a striking black timber extension to a Melbourne cottage.
Now, let's ponder this: Is a home's beauty truly in how it ages, or in its initial grandeur? Splinter Society's Coastal House certainly makes a strong case for the former. What do you think? Does the idea of materials evolving over time appeal to you, or do you prefer a more timeless, unchanging aesthetic? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
