Offering expansive panoramic views from Bass Strait to Barwon Heads, extending to the Barwon River wetlands, this exceptional site warranted a thoughtful architectural approach. The design utilizes multiple floor levels that gently cascade down the steep gradient, maximizing permitted Planning height limits and site coverage to fully harness the location’s potential.
Hillside House
New Home | Ocean Grove | VIC
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6-bedroom, 4.5-bath, Upstairs Living / Dining, Downstairs entertaining & Al Fresco, Retreat / Office, Kitchen / Pantry, Laundry, Double Garage
The main upper living level features kitchen and family living areas and a balcony that captures the impressive vistas. The lower level comprises a spacious entertaining area and outdoor amenities, including a sunken lounge and swimming pool. Bedrooms are strategically zoned into a main bedroom suite, a children’s area, and a guest wing, utilised the intermediary levels to instil some separation from busy living spaces.
Our design aimed to create a series of rectangular volumes nestled into the steep hillside, allowing the building to subtly harmonise the natural site contours. Feature decorative battening provides privacy screening and filter direct sunlight, with arched openings at windows and entry providing a strong visual motif to soften the rectangular elements.
Generous ceiling heights enhance the extensive floor-to-ceiling glazing throughout. While the southward-sloping site presents challenges for natural daylight access from the north, the integration of clerestory windows ensures ample daylight is drawn into the primary living spaces. As the floor plates meander down the hillside, they are intersected by decks and planted courtyards that help draw natural daylight deep into the floor plan.
