Simon Couchman Architects

Balnarring House

Balnarring House
© Christine Francis

BALNARRING HOUSE

Simon Couchman Architects: Simon Couchman Architects / Simon Couchman

ARCHITECTS
Simon Couchman Architects: Simon Couchman Architects / Simon Couchman

MANUFACTURERS
Centor

YEAR
2011

LOCATION
Australia

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

The brief called for a family holiday house where family could be together but not on top of one another.

Balnarring House
© Christine Francis
Balnarring House
© Christine Francis

The wide, north-facing block some 5 minutes walk from Balnarring Beach on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula offered the perfect opportunity to build such a house.

Amongst the tea-tree and banksia are the sandy driveways of 1950s-style fibro shacks alternating with the modern housing indicative of the continuing development of the region.

While sympathetic to its surroundings, the design of the house seeks to make use of the entire site.

Balnarring House
© Christine Francis
Balnarring House
© Christine Francis

The single level U-shaped building steps up towards the rear of the block following the gentle slope of the land.

An integrated landscape solution helps to create a series of indoor and outdoor spaces.

The front wing provides a sleeping zone away from the main living areas.

Balnarring House
© Christine Francis
Balnarring House
© Christine Francis

A family room here can be opened to the central courtyard and also to a fully-secured front yard defined by a curved, vertical batten fence which arcs back to the house, connecting to a curved wall leading visitors to the front door.

A glazed corridor links entry and family wing to the rear living areas with a free-standing spine wall concealing a smaller private courtyard addressed only by the master bedroom and study.

The main living area flows directly onto the central space via fully retractable bi-fold doors.

Balnarring House
© Christine Francis
Balnarring House
© Christine Francis

Terraced decking offers casual seating, and links to a covered BBQ area incorporating outdoor eating with pass-through window to the kitchen.

lack painted cement sheet panel and raw hardwood timber cladding used externally merge inside the house in places contrasting against the clean white interior plaster shell.

Full height glazing and slot windows frame the landscape and further allow the outdoor spaces to flow through the house.

Balnarring House
© Christine Francis
Balnarring House
© Christine Francis


Balnarring House
© Christine Francis
Balnarring House
© Christine Francis
Balnarring House
© Christine Francis


Balnarring House
© Christine Francis
Balnarring House
© Christine Francis
Balnarring House
© Christine Francis


Balnarring House
Site Plan
Balnarring House
Elevations
Balnarring House
Section

Simon Couchman Architects
T +61 401 176479
Simon Couchman Architects
Unit 3/437 Inkerman St, St Kilda East VIC 3183, Australia