Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Swish Melbourne Build Designed for Resort-Style Living
There's no need to get away from it all when you have a future-proof beach house to call home
This sophisticated family home is designed to make the most of its stunning location, with the beach right across the road. But building so close to the water came with its own set of challenges, like designing for the possibility of rising sea levels. Steve Domoney Architecture came up with a clever seawall to keep the council happy, and to give builder Romando Nascarella and his family peace of mind going into the future.
The home’s proximity to the foreshore, and the council’s concerns about future rising sea levels, inspired the architects to design a boundary wall (the low off-white wall in front) that could double as a sea wall, complete with an automated panel that can rise to seal the driveway and make the basement watertight.
At the rear of the property, this detail of the zinc cladding shows off the home’s sophisticated material palette. The combination of limestone and weathered zinc on the exterior was chosen for durability in the sometimes harsh coastal environment, but they also have a coastal aesthetic that makes this home feel more like a beach resort than an average family home.
Anthra Zinc: VMZinc
Anthra Zinc: VMZinc
Once you step inside through the oversized timber pivot door, the limestone and zinc exterior gives way to sumptuous travertine, and floor-to-ceiling glass in the entry vestibule makes the most of those stunning ocean views.
Scala travertine tiles: Eco Outdoor
Scala travertine tiles: Eco Outdoor
Heading upstairs to the main living areas, you can either climb the gravity-defying cantilevered stairs or, if you’re feeling lazy (or you have the week’s groceries in hand), you can take the elevator that connects all three levels. Apart from being a luxurious feature, the elevator helps to future-proof the home, meaning it will serve the family even as they get older and less mobile.
To help the home feel connected to the beach, Domoney says “the living areas are elevated to the first floor where [they enjoy] commanding views of the foreshore.” This casual sitting/dining area opens on both sides to generous balconies. With fewer privacy concerns one storey up, extensive glazing helps these laid-back living spaces really capture the views and grab light from all directions.
Further in is the kitchen, part of the same open-plan space. A large island bench creates somewhere for the family to gather while cooking. Windows all around catch glimpses of the ocean and adjacent living areas, so the whole space feels connected, yet intimate. Rich timber panelling on the ceiling and cabinetry creates a sense of relaxed resort living. “The home and its setting have created a whole new lifestyle for the family, one that any person would adapt to very easily and very quickly,” says Domoney.
Benchtops in ‘Pietra’: Stone Italiana
Benchtops in ‘Pietra’: Stone Italiana
Overhead, the ceiling feels as if it’s floating above the walls thanks to clerestory windows that run the length of the house. These high-set windows afford glimpses of passing clouds during the day, and make the house look like a lantern at night. In the same rich timber, the ceiling feels comforting, like a warm cocoon. Of course, this heavy material has the potential to feel overwhelming, but the combination of the clerestory windows and extensive glazing on this upper living level ensures the timber ceiling never feels oppressive.
The kitchen has the best of both worlds – an open-plan area that connects to the more informal living areas, and a separate preparation area for messier tasks. A frosted glass splashback washes the sink and preparation area in diffused light. Through this galley-like preparation space, you can glimpse a second, more formal living area.
Sink: Abey; appliances: Miele; tapware: Rogerseller
Sink: Abey; appliances: Miele; tapware: Rogerseller
If you continue walking through the preparation space and past the powder room, you reach the best of the views in a formal lounge and dining area. You can just imagine what a beautiful place this would be to have a dinner party, overlooking the ocean with the lights of the city in the distance.
Melbourne’s weather is not always perfect beach weather, so it was essential for the architects to create a variety of spaces for all climatic conditions. “We provided a variety of external spaces and experiences for the occupants,” says Domoney, “responding at any particular time to, say, a prevailing wind condition or perhaps the protection from the harsher sun during the hotter months and, in all cases, maintaining the desired connection to the beach and sea beyond.” That’s why this formal area has access to another two balconies: one it shares with the informal living area and one it has all to itself.
Melbourne’s weather is not always perfect beach weather, so it was essential for the architects to create a variety of spaces for all climatic conditions. “We provided a variety of external spaces and experiences for the occupants,” says Domoney, “responding at any particular time to, say, a prevailing wind condition or perhaps the protection from the harsher sun during the hotter months and, in all cases, maintaining the desired connection to the beach and sea beyond.” That’s why this formal area has access to another two balconies: one it shares with the informal living area and one it has all to itself.
Downstairs, the darker, cooler ground level is reserved for all four bedrooms, three of the five bathrooms, a study, laundry and separate living space for the kids. “Bedrooms at ground level offer greater internal privacy,” says Domoney. It also provides the opportunity for the bedrooms to connect to what Domoney calls ‘garden courts’, to bring in light and views of greenery without sacrificing privacy. This is, after all, an exposed site nearly on top of a public beach, yet the bedrooms feel like serene sanctuaries.
Rich timber panelling and an open-plan bedroom/ensuite certainly make the master bedroom suite feel like an upmarket hotel room. When not in use, the sculptural freestanding bath essentially becomes an art piece for the room. Domoney says the ideas was to create a resort-living-at-home feeling.
Oak timber panelling in ‘Mink Grey’: Royal Oak Floors by Harper & Sandilands; freestanding bath: Apaiser
Oak timber panelling in ‘Mink Grey’: Royal Oak Floors by Harper & Sandilands; freestanding bath: Apaiser
Resort-style living continues in the ensuite where floor-to-ceiling oak panelling surrounds a luxurious vanity. The mirror above and below the vanity visually doubles the already generous space.
Just across the entry foyer from the master bedroom, the study is yet another sophisticated space with ocean views. The built-in storage and desk match the timber used elsewhere in the house.
Compared to the dark, cocooning timber of the master bedroom and study, the kids’ bedrooms are breezy, bright spaces thanks to white walls and windows looking onto those garden courts. Again, built-in desks and shelves provide the children with their own functional space for homework or reading.
Along with a multi-car garage and turntable for manoeuvrability, the basement houses a theatre and bar area for entertaining, or just a quiet Saturday night in.
YOUR SAY
Which ideas would you like to borrow from this new-build? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
YOUR SAY
Which ideas would you like to borrow from this new-build? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here: Romando and Maralina Nascarella, and their two daughters
Location: Williamstown, Victoria
Year built: 2015
Size: 600 square metres; 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, plus a study
Architect: Steve Domoney Architecture
Builder: Devco
Devco’s Romando Nascarella built this home for his wife and two daughters. Its location opposite a quiet beach in Williamstown, nine kilometres south-west of Melbourne’s CBD, came with numerous challenges, but the primary aim was to ensure the home connected well to the beach, both physically and visually.