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Having spent many summers there himself, Eckersley Architects director Tom Eckersley knows the magic of Anglesea — a little coastal town about 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne.
It’s also why this new holiday home, nicknamed Jackson, was a particularly special one for the architect, who designed the project for his parents.
In replace of an existing dark and poorly constructed brick dwelling, the brief for their new house needed to be flexible, thermally efficient, and light filled throughout.
Most of all, it needed to have a strong connection with nature, celebrating the incredibly vast ocean views on offer from the steep sloping site.
‘We wanted to create a subtle, humble building that blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings rather than stand out, screaming “look at me!”’ Tom says.
The resulting house is neatly anchored into the slope of the block, with the front facade and carport drawing inspiration from the original elevated fibro beach shacks that remain in the beachside neighbourhood.
A muted material palette was also key to merging the residence within the landscape.
Charred timber cladding and rugged stone walls set the tone for the minimalistic interiors, where raw blackbutt timber ceilings are paired with stone flooring from Eco Outdoor.
The floor plan is cleverly divided into three zones, allowing the home to feel like an ‘intimate home’ for Tom’s parents, but also expand to host their extended family and grandchildren whenever they come to stay.
At ground level, the entry opens to the rumpus room alongside a bunkroom. Upstairs features the main living areas, which flow out onto a balcony with uninterrupted vistas of where the cliffs meet the ocean.
‘Whilst the house appears quite elevated from the street, it was important for the transition between inside and outside to feel seamless,’ Tom adds.
‘The layout of the home is wrapped around a central courtyard allowing easy direct access [from] inside to out.’
In addition to incorporating passive solar principles for thermal efficiency, the house has a 14kWh solar panel system with a battery, all-electric appliances, and even the drought-tolerant garden was designed by Eckersley Garden Architecture with sustainability in mind.
Tom says his parents were great clients: ‘We had some robust debates along the journey, but no more than what you have with any other client.’
The result is a serenely beautiful, yet understated home, perfectly placed in its stunning coastal setting.
