THEPERFECTGETAWAY
hen architect Mark Austin’s clients approached him to
renovate their beloved beach house in Lorne, Victoria,
they were very clear about the brief. “They were conscious
of not following the local pattern of demolishing existing
propertiestobuildmuchlargerones,”saystheco-directorof
Melbourne-based Austin Maynard Architects. “So they wanted
us to reconfigure the shack rather than create something new.”
Mark’s response was to retain the home’s small footprint and
incorporateafirst-leveladditiontoaccommodatethenewkitchen,
lounge and dining areas. The Dorman House’s simple yet efficient
open-planlayout,punctuatedbyaspiralstaircaseandhanging
fireplace, is as conducive to quiet retreat as it is to social gathering
and entertaining.
Full-height windows at the rear of the addition may allow for
expansiveoceanviews,butMarkwasmindfulthataspectnot
compromise liveability. “It could have been a white plasterboard
boxfullofdownlights,”heexplains.“Instead,welinedtheinterior
withsilvertopashtogivethelivingareaswarmth.”Thecohesive
detailing exudes character, making the space appear all the more
welcoming while effectively turning the clients’ attention inward,
without distracting from the view.
Ensuringthesilvertopashmaintainsitsappearancewasa
priority for both the architect and the clients, so Mark selected
IntergrainNature’sTimberOilasthefinish.Theproductis
made from 95 percent sustainable ingredients that, once applied,
replicatetimber’snaturaldefencestoprotectagainstageing.For
aschemethatreliessoheavilyonasinglematerialforitsdesign
expression, this level of performance is not to be underestimated.
The high performance of Intergrain products allowed Austin
Maynard Architects to extensively use exposed timber to add
warmth and texture to a beach house on the Victorian coast.
Photography by Peter Bennetts
INTERGRAIN SHOWCASE
