POINT LONSDALE, Australia – A new home in Point Lonsdale, Australia, is demonstrating how thoughtful design can deliver both contemporary style and remarkable energy efficiency, achieving an 8-star NatHERS rating. The project, completed by Field Office Architecture, prioritizes a sense of calm and connection to the coastal habitat.
A Coastal Retreat Rooted in Restraint
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The design blends modern living with the understated charm of traditional Bellarine Peninsula beach houses.
- The home balances contemporary design with a sense of coastal restraint.
- Sustainability is a core principle, with features like solar power, rainwater harvesting, and passive design.
- The design prioritizes long-term comfort, resilience, and the ability to age in place.
- The house fosters a slower pace of life and connection to the outdoors.
“We weren’t interested in nostalgia or copying an old shack language,but we did want to retain that sense of restraint and ease that coastal places used to embody,” explains Chris Barnes,director of Field Office architecture. The team aimed to create a home that feels both contemporary and deeply rooted in its location.
What makes a house feel truly livable? According to the architects, it’s about creating spaces that encourage simple routines, long meals, and a connection to the outdoors, all within a framework of long-term comfort and resilience.
Balancing Form and Function
Given an empty site, Field Office Architecture meticulously designed the home from the ground up, tailoring it to the clients’ needs and the unique characteristics of the location. this allowed for the integration of considerations for long-term comfort, resilience, and the ability to age in place from the project’s inception. The design also needed to accommodate both intimate moments for two and larger gatherings when the owners’ adult children visit.
The exterior of the home reflects a commitment to sustainability and a desire to blend with the surrounding landscape. “We used robust masonry for the lower level to give the house weight and thermal stability, and timber cladding above to bring warmth and softness,” says Barnes. Timber screening further enhances the exterior, managing sun and privacy while adding a textured, coastal character.
“Externally, we liked the idea that the building would settle into the garden and gray off naturally over time. Internally, that same restraint carries through with tactile materials and warm tones, so the home feels calm and lived-in rather than overly styled,” Barnes added.
A High-Performance, Enduring Design
The home’s design combines passive design fundamentals with a high-performance building envelope, allowing it to operate “as close to off-grid as possible.” A 10kW solar array paired with a Tesla Powerwall battery, along with ample rainwater capture and reuse systems, significantly reduces reliance on external utilities.
Thermal mass materials and careful orientation to maximize northern light exposure ensure the house remains radiant and warm throughout the day, minimizing the need for active heating. The layout is also thoughtfully designed, allowing sections of the home to be closed off when not in use, further enhancing comfort and efficiency without compromising the overall sense of spaciousness.
The owners now enjoy a home that is both easy to entertain in and requires minimal maintenance. “It’s a home that can be lived in properly without the constant anxiety of damaging something precious,” Barnes explains.
A Quiet Confidence in Place
Field Office Architecture is proud to have successfully met the clients’ brief for a high-performing home that also respects the character of Point Lonsdale. “We wanted the home to feel composed and understated – something that quietly belongs to Point Lonsdale – rather than competing for attention,” Barnes says.
The design fosters a slower pace of life, with spaces that encourage outdoor living, shared meals, and simple routines. The ground-floor layout provides a sense of security for the future, allowing the owners to remain in the home long-term without facing challenges related to accessibility or changing needs.
“The performance side makes a difference too. When a home holds temperature well and relies less on ongoing inputs, it changes how relaxed you feel living in it,” Barnes concludes. “Ultimately, it’s a house that supports rest and connection.”
