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Perched on a steep and exposed rocky hill overlooking the Cathedral Ranges, this carefully constructed home subtly blends into its surroundings, never competing with its breathtaking views.
The young family that purchased this vacant block wanted a weekend nature retreat from their everyday city lives. Their brief to Jak Architecture was simple: ‘A low-maintenance home with a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.’
‘The clients wanted the landscape to be the hero and the house to step aside,’ explains Sophie Goetz, JAK Architecture design director. ‘They didn’t want a house that felt overdone, or anything that competed with the view.’
The team at JAK Architecture devised an L-shaped plan, embedding the house’s northern edge into the hillside to create a protected enclosure for the pool and entertaining terrace. On the other side, the southern facade offers breathtaking views of the Cathedral Ranges through full-height glazing.
‘The building is nestled into the earth, with planting kept minimal and carefully chosen to soften the house into the hillside rather than impose upon it,’ Sylvie says.
On the southern side, the main living areas and master bedrooms look out toward the ranges while the additional bedrooms, laundry and garage face west into the bushland. Even the master en suite prioritises a connection to the landscape with a circular window capturing the view.
While setting the house into the side of the hill kept the landscape as the hero, JAK Architecture also ensured the material palette played its part.
Taking inspiration from regional Victoria’s agriculture, they used barn forms and corrugated rooflines to inform the building’s exterior.
Inside, the palette is shaped by the surrounding bushland, with natural fibres, linens, wools, leather and timber consistent throughout the home’s furnishing.
‘We were also thinking about resilience: what it means to build carefully in a landscape that is both deeply loved and inherently vulnerable,’ Sylvie says.
This timeless design is defined by its landscape and is a peaceful addition to the Cathedral Ranges.
‘We love how calm the house is — how liveable and enjoyable it is to exist in,’ Sylvie says. ‘With all of the large sliding doors open to the south and north, it felt like living outdoors… We’re proud of how quietly the house sits in its setting.’
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