Mount Martha House / Kester Architects
+21
year :
2022
Manufacturers: Austral BrixAnd the religious sectAnd the FrankAnd the LaminexAnd the MilliAnd the SiriusAnd the AWSAnd the monasteryAnd the AirtronAnd the ArtidomusAnd the bellevue architectureAnd the Louvre BreezwayAnd the ByzantineAnd the Caesar StoneAnd the charred woodAnd the creative windowsAnd the first choice warehouseAnd the lynch window fashionAnd the Melbourne Oak FlowersAnd the Prestige carpets+3-3-
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Text description provided by the architects. Nestled in the backstreets of Old Mount Martha (a bay suburb of Melbourne at the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula), this bungalow holiday residence is a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature. The brief for the creation of a multi-generational private family retreat also called for a strong connection to context and distinct areas of privacy and recreation. Biophilic design principles enhanced the initial responsiveness and facilitated the seamless integration of the interior and exterior. Designed to maximize the north side by embracing the south boundary, the design defines a triangular scheme around a central courtyard and uses the site’s gentle fall to increase the penetration of natural light throughout the year.
A solid, charred wood wall shields the house from the street creating an instant sense of privacy. This wall peels away to reveal a covered entrance, behind which lie the main volumes: living spaces distinctly separated from the private areas, each wrapping around the natural courtyard, with full-height windows framing the landscape. A continuous visual and spatial connection is enabled by a glass breeze that leads into the main sanctuary and a glazed corridor to the children’s pavilion, which in turn leads to the living space. Natural light floods each room, highlighting the palette of streamlined materials – wood inlay, blocks, and glass, with a backsplash and soft blue-green palette – while a pergola and central patio create an ever-changing play of shade and light as well as providing protection from the elements.
The interplay of transparency and rigidity across the facade breaks up the visual volume of the building mass, an aesthetic decision as much as it is functional, because the construction provides thermal mass and the high-performance double glazing maintains the interior temperature, while the intersection openings allow breathing. Other sustainable practices include comprehensive insulation, solar panels, hydro-heating, ceiling fans, rainwater harvesting, and maximum natural light.
Allied specialties included engineers to consult on glazing and hidden details made of canvas with custom-folded steel lintels and the large curved awning in the courtyard. Energy professionals advise on passive heating and cooling, and landscapers have also been consulted on maximizing landscape integration. Budget management included specifications for low-cost interior materials and fittings, and elegant finishes that required little maintenance. In sum, Mount Martha House subtly reveals itself as a versatile and sensitive intervention on the site, subtly balancing the expansive recreation areas and openness to the surrounding landscape with enclosed elements providing a haven of privacy and sanctuary for the interior.
