House on an Hill is a multigenerational country home on Bunurong Country on the Mornington Peninsula. It nurtures its inhabitants and shelters from the harsh windy environment.

Flexibility and adaption are integral. Openness and generosity prevail in response to the client’s expansive brief while subtle zoning enables intimacy and separation of uses. The house is designed to cater for two people or extended family, social/corporate gatherings, and a farmhouse for vineyard/livestock operations.

Robust materials have been selected for longevity, sustainability and reduced carbon footprint; counterbalanced by curved forms, natural timber and stone, and intimate scaling of space, to create a softened and enhanced user experience. The architectural expression sits between the abstract and the serene; merging light and shadow, sound and silence, transparency and opacity. Spaces and materials are curated for sensorial and emotive value. The project was delivered within budget and surpassed our clients brief and expectations. The house functions on both practical and aesthetic levels.

A strong collaboration between all consultants and builder enabled refining of detail and budget throughout all stages. House on a Hill is a delicate balance of mass and weightlessness. An exploration in form and light. A tangible sense of sanctuary and restraint prevails.

Photography: Lisa Cohen