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design
mag
Beach Road hugs the upper western shore
of Port Philip Bay, passing through some of
Melbourne’s most prestigious suburbs. It’s
the key road in a network much favoured by
bike riders who descend on it in their
thousands, especially on weekends.
Beach Road is also a favourite of home
owners who appreciate the spectacular bay
views, white beaches and numerous yacht
clubs. Land values along this popular
thoroughfare often outstrip that of their
established homes which has led to an
active rebuilding market.
The owners of this property occupied a
serviceable but unexceptional 1950’s house
for several years, allowing them to gauge the
site and develop their ideas for a new home.
The corner block is located opposite a reserve
with views over a small cove with a sheltered
beach. It’s no surprise then that access to the
views is paramount.“Because of the bay
views, you want to live upstairs,” explains Lowe
Construction’s Brian Lowe. His company
specialises in designing and constructing
houses in this area.“So these are the reverse
of the usual house, with the kitchen,
entertainment areas and master suite upstairs
and secondary bedrooms below.”
The facade is a blend of cedar, render and
sandy-coloured, smooth-face, full-height
blocks sitting against a strongly-textured
background of half-height, split-face masonry
units in the same colour, all manufactured by
Austral Masonry. Massive double-glazed
windows – said to be the largest installed in a
Victorian house – dominate the upper level
frontage and overlook a small walled garden.
previous page.
The front of
the house affords wonderful
views over Port Phillip Bay.The
living areas are on the upper
levels with bedrooms below.
above.
The main entrance is
on the side street, the entry
foyer rising the two storeys.
The dominant facade
material – slim, split-face
masonry units – also folds
into the entrance.
“The spilt face units are
a feature, the cedar is
a feature and the
amount of glass is a
feature.The rest you
just want to lose.”