Pyramid Rock House

Country: Bunurong

Nestled into the rolling hills on the southern coastline of Phillip Island and looking out towards Berry’s Beach and Pyramid Rock lookout, this farmhouse style home designed for a couple and their extended family, aims to compliment and co-exist with the wild weather and harsh conditions which arrive from Bass Strait.

The project, conceived around conversations centred on connecting family across generations, provides a picturesque escape on the client’s expansive farmland property.

The ethos for the design was to create a sanctuary inside of a heavy external façade, prompted by the extreme weather conditions typical of the South coast. Cream coloured clay bricks, hand crafted in Victoria make up this external shell, which is capped off with standing seam metal roofing, painted in warm, earthy tones, a nod to the red clay bluff and the silver creams of the coastal grasses. A colonnade spanning the length of the building and supporting the roof across the southwest façade of the building, provides visual and structural stability, framing the extensive glazing which looks out towards the Ocean and the many landmarks scattered across the south coast of Phillip Island. Significant investigation and assessment was invested into the siting of the dwelling, with the final location of the building placed to maximise views towards the southwest, while minimising visibility of the building from the nearby Berry’s beach walking track.

The layout of the building can be described as two long volumes or wings, interconnecting around the shared living spaces of kitchen, dining and Internal courtyard. The first wing, located near the main entry of the building, is designed to accommodate for extended family members and their children, with 4 bedrooms featuring generous amenities and external access. The second wing is home to the Master bedroom and bathroom for the client, along with storage and external entry. The design seeks to interconnect family through shared living spaces, while affording the opportunity to seek privacy and seclusion where required, and is designed with the intent of being the client’s forever home.