Houzz Tour: A Barn-Style Holiday Home Pitches Up in Victoria
Rural vernacular and contemporary style meet in a two-part design for multiple generations of a Melbourne family
The owners of this property are an extended family with a wide range of ages. Since the 1960s they have been travelling to the home’s Phillip Island location in Victoria on a regular basis. Until recently that involved squeezing into a prefab shack, but a few years ago their desire to holiday together in comfort took hold and they contacted Tom Robertson Architects.
Facing north and gently sloping down over private land, the property enjoys a splendid isolation.
Robertson chose locally sourced blackbutt timber for both the exterior and interior. “Over time, the hardwood shiplap cladding will silver off and the building will settle further into the landscape,” he says.
Find an architect near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews
Find an architect near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews
This central section of the home is open at both ends and contains the entrance. In summer, the breezeway provides passive cooling and is a shaded space for the family to relax.
To ensure maximum sun in winter, the size of the eaves and the length of the shadows they cast was carefully considered.
All the materials are robust and functional. The kitchen benchtop is Carrara marble, a cool contrast to the cabinet’s warm oak veneer. “Natural materials warm the refined grey-and-white scheme. The bulkhead adds to the atmosphere of cosiness and contentment,” says Robertson.
Customised to the owner’s specifications, the island bench is optimal height for feeding small children. The space between the benches can comfortably fit two people cooking at a time.
Timber cladding enters the building via the dining area’s ceiling and speaks to the timber dining table and Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs.
Large expanses of glass trap the sun in winter. The direction of the timber cladding leads the eye out to the view through an almost full wall of windows. Modular seating in a soft grey offers little obstruction.
The materials palette is restrained and minimal, so textural interest is important. On this side of the living area, the exposed brick wall helps draw attention to a painting by Kerry Armstrong and a Cheminées Philippe wood fire.
“Inside, the colours are deliberately muted,” says Robertson. “This has allowed the owners to inject their own personality through art, furniture and accessories, and update it at their leisure.”
An aluminium window frames a view at the side of the house. It’s reflected in the polished-concrete floor, which increases thermal mass and, together with underfloor heating, regulates the home’s internal temperature.
The bathrooms share an affordable materials palette – white tiles and timber accent pieces – but are configured differently. Each has a terrazzo floor and at least one wall of 150-millimetre-square tiles.
A place of retreat for adults, or to dunk the kids after a day of roaming, this bathroom has plenty of light and privacy.
Leaving colour out of the scheme helps keep the focus on what’s outside.
Sitting out here is a full-sun experience, and quiet moments alone often evolve into lively group chats.
Open space abounds in every direction. Timber walkways make it easy to stroll around the home’s perimeter.
Your turn
Which elements of this home do you love? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
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Craving more beautiful design? Don’t miss last week’s USA Houzz Tour: A Martha’s Vineyard Renovation Preserves Memories
Your turn
Which elements of this home do you love? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more beautiful design? Don’t miss last week’s USA Houzz Tour: A Martha’s Vineyard Renovation Preserves Memories
Who holidays here: Three generations of one family. The oldest is approaching retirement, the youngest is just learning to walk. Up to 14 people can be accommodated in the two pavilions that give the project its name.
Location: Phillip Island, Victoria
Size: 340 square metres; four bedrooms
Architecture and interior design: Tom Robertson Architects
Principal Tom Robertson and his team answered the brief for a modern dwelling with a simple yet high-spec design across two structures connected by a central breezeway. Its flexible floor plan has a pavilion with sleeping quarters at each end, and open living spaces to gather in between. Large sliding doors separate the zones when required. Outside, the home has a barn-inspired profile and pitched roof with wooden cladding, a good match for its natural setting on an elevated spot with unimpeded views to the sea.