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Stepping out onto the deck of this Queenscliff home reveals a breathtaking northern view over Swan Bay on the Bellarine Peninsula. But this house didn’t always take advantage of its coastal position.
The owners, a retired couple, discovered the site in 2023 and immediately recognised its potential, despite the modest, run-down single-storey brick home that stood on it.
Their brief for JAK Architecture was simple: a forever home they could live in for as long as possible, capturing the views on their doorstep.
‘The old house was oriented almost away from the views. We wanted every key space to face the bay, so the design is organised around it,’ says Sylvie Gotez, JAK Architecture design director.
The first-floor living, dining, and kitchen now open onto a spacious deck through sliding doors, creating one continuous space.
‘A slender steel balustrade is the only thing between you and the water,’ Sylvie says.
‘When you’re standing in that living space, it feels like you’re sitting right on top of Swan Bay. It’s incredible.’
But bringing these views inside also came with a question of privacy.
‘The biggest challenge was balancing openness and privacy. The house is on a relatively quiet street, but local walkers still pass by,’ Sylvie explains.
‘The clients wanted the view from almost every room, including the main bedroom and ensuite, but those spaces still needed to feel private. We handled it by carefully positioning the glazing, walls and joinery, and layering in sheer curtains.’
Alongside these considerations, Sylvie thoughtfully selected materials in warm, earthy tones that ground the home in its relaxed coastal setting. The same few materials, colours, and textures repeat throughout the home.
‘The palette is deliberately quiet: oak floors, the pale brick of the fireplace wall, and timber cladding that wraps from the exterior onto the deck,’ Sylvie explains.
‘Inside, we drew on mid-century design principles, such as strong datum lines that tie the spaces together, and nib walls that gently define each area without closing it off. We paired these with warm timber and earthy tones, then added moments of colour and personality.’
Accents of stainless steel balance the timber and green quartzite, a stone the homeowners fell in love with. This quartzite is paired with green mosaic tiles to bring soft mint, olive and sage tones into the bathrooms.
The home’s exterior is clad entirely in timber, except for the brick chimney, a feature which continues inside with the pale brick wall surrounding the fireplace.
‘Brick is a hard material, but here it softens the space. The concrete hearth sits upon the floor, giving you somewhere to sit and to display objects and art,’ Sylvie says.
‘We are proud of how disciplined the material palette is. The house feels calm and cohesive, and still unmistakably theirs.’
