Defined by a rounded, abstract black mass floating atop a rammed earth wall, Portsea House is the latest venture from Australian architecture firm Wood Marsh.
Nestled into the crest of a leafy court, the house stands in contrast to the surrounding landscape. Built in the Victorian suburb of Portsea, the home is anything but common for the traditional resort town.
'It looks a bit like a spaceship has landed on the ground,' remarks architect Roger Wood. 'The house was inspired by the surrounding environment, tall white stone cliffs and charred driftwood, the fluid nature of the surrounding ocean.' All of these elements make themselves present when viewing the house from the street and resonate subtly through the interiors.
Take an interactive tour of Portsea House
Upon entering the house through the curved retaining wall, a secluded bar and entertaining space sits hidden opposite the main staircase. The main level is characterised by a full-height glazed rear façade that frames the surrounding landscape. The amount of light and fauna brought into the main level transforms it into a seamless indoor/outdoor experience.
An expansive deck flows out from here to the pool area, which is partially screened by an arcing masonry wall. The main level also contains a striking indoor terrarium used to separate the kitchen and dining room from the structure's two wings, housing the master and additional bedrooms.
Portsea House received a residential architecture prize at the 2014 Victorian Architecture Awards from the Australian Institute of Architects. The home will advance to the 2014 National Architecture Awards; winners will be announced in early November.
'It looks a bit like a spaceship has landed on the ground,' remarks architect and practice principal Roger Wood, who was inspired by charred driftwood and the fluidity of the nearby ocean
All of these elements make themselves present when viewing the house from the street...
...and resonate subtly through the interior. The amount of light and fauna brought into the main level also transforms it into a seamless indoor/outdoor experience
The main level contains an indoor terrarium used to separate the kitchen and dining room from the structure's two wings
A secluded bar and entertaining space sits hidden opposite the main staircase
Inspired by its environmental surroundings, Portsea House is filled with suggestions of the Australian coast
A dramatic staircase leads to the central living area
The undulating black walls, influenced by the nearby ocean, are appropriately used to divide the living spaces
An expansive deck flows out to the pool area
The main level is characterised by a full-height glazed rear façade, framing the surrounding landscape
-
A celestial New York exhibition showcases Roman and Williams’ mastery of lightingLauded design studio Roman and Williams is exhibiting 100 variations of its lighting ‘family tree’ inside a historic Tribeca space
-
‘He immortalised the birth of the supermodel’: inside Dior’s career-spanning retrospective of photographer Peter LindberghOlivier Flaviano, curator and head of Paris’ La Galerie Dior, talks us through a new Peter Lindbergh retrospective, which celebrates the seminal German photographer’s longtime relationship with the French house
-
Take a bite: Laila Gohar and The Luxury Collection’s ‘Cakes & Candles’ are a sweet treat for the sensesLaila Gohar’s six cake-inspired candles draw on The Luxury Collection’s hotels around the world – where guests can enjoy matching edible confections
-
A monolithic house in rural Victoria celebrates 50 shades of greyAdam Kane Architects’ monolithic house in rural Victoria, Grey House, is ‘a testament to the power of simplicity and harmony’
-
Is Rochester Street Office a creative worker’s dream? Inside a Sydney workspace echoing calmness and lightRochester Street Office by Allied_Office merges utilitarian design with cascading vegetation, presenting a thriving environment for creativity and collaboration
-
A Melbourne family home draws on classic modernism to create a pavilion in the landscapeThis Melbourne family home by Vibe Design Group was inspired by midcentury design and shaped to be an extension of its verdant site
-
Tour Clifton House, an airy Bondi family home, brimming with natural light and foliageClifton House by Anthony Gill Architects is a North Bondi home using an abundance of vegetation to create a slice of privacy within the suburbs
-
Tour this compact Melbourne home, where a small footprint is big on efficiency and experimentationNorthcote House is designed by architects David Leggett and Paul Loh as their own home in Melbourne
-
Bridging Boyd is the rebirth of a modernist Melbourne homeBridging Boyd by Jolson is a modernist Melbourne home reimagined for the 21st century
-
This Sydney house is a family's stylish seaside sanctuaryThis Sydney house is a young family's suburban dream come true thanks to Alexandra Kidd Interior Design and Rich Carr Architects
-
Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2024: meet the practicesIn the Wallpaper* Architects Directory 2024, our latest guide to exciting, emerging practices from around the world, 20 young studios show off their projects and passion
