VISION 39 — HOUSE-MASTER
LOUTTIT
BAY HOUSE
[2015]
Built high on the amphitheatre of Louttit Bay, the house
challenges the typical expectations of a renovated home
with a bold, yet sensitive addition to the Lorne
streetscape. A prosaic suburban brick house has been
transformed to accommodate an extended family,
while presenting as a modest sized house.
Inspired by early "fibro beach shacks" and the beautiful
Otway Ranges, fibre cement sheeting and Spotted Gum
timbers are evident throughout the interior. Externally,
the weathering steel roof sheds rainwater into a generous
pebble lined trench.
We were approached with an open brief to renovate a
very urban brick dwelling into a holiday retreat. The
intention was to better capture the coastal views and to
provide a higher standard of family accommodation.
Through a number of conversations, we established a
fluid, open and trusting relationship that informed the
design process. This relationship greatly energized us in
being able to transform the existing house into a result
that greatly exceeded our clients’ expectations.
The house is zoned across two levels to accommodate
three generations. At the upper level, an air locked zone
accommodates an open planned kitchen and living area
with two bedroom suites each with generous ensuites.
The lower level includes two bedrooms; wet areas,
a garage, games room and Nook that is covered in
mattresses for the grand kids to hang out or sleep in.
Working within the existing shell and by opening up
the north facade with large sliding doors capped by a
generous skillion roof, the improved spatial qualities
and detailing has led to a considerably improved home,
better solar orientation and cross ventilation.
PROJECT ESD CONSULTANT
Louttit Bay House,
Lorne, Victoria Thermalpro
DESIGN ARCHITECT Plan Cost Australia
David Seeley
PROJECT ARCHITECT
Rodney Munro
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANTS
Emma Seeley and
Frankie Piesse
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Don Moore and associates,
Don Moore
CIVIL ENGINEER
P.J Yttrup and associates
QUANTITY SURVEYOR
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
TNLA, Tim Nicholas
BUILDING SURVEYOR
BSA building surveyors
BUILDER
Poulsen Builders,
Nick and Karsten Poulsen
GLAZIER
Lugg glass, John Lugg
PRINCIPAL GLASS PROVIDER :
Viridian
PRINCIPAL GLAZING
Viridian double-glazing:
EnergyTech™ Green tint,
argon and EnergyTech™
Neutral
An air lock strategically placed at the entry to the house
protects the interior from the effects of winter winds
and thereby reduces heating costs. Sustainably sourced
Citriodora maculata and New South Wales Spotted Gum
is used extensively as internal floors and linings. Like the
bricks from the original house, these timbers can be
readily recycled at the e nd of the dwelling’s life.
The Corten clad roof completes the renovation, reflective
of but not succumbing to the effects of the nearby
corrosive effects of the southern ocean.
A considered landscape design encompassing stone
filled gabion walls and native trees, contributes to the
textural palate thoughtfully reflective of the Otway's
landscape.
The Louttit house provides a fresh perspective in
repurposing an existing, but inappropriate house,
transforming it into a contextual, sustainable home.