A bach is a New Zealand term for a family summer house, usually fairly basic in form and simple in finish.
For MRTN Architects, this was an appropriate starting point to design this coastal house for a family of five, originally from NZ.
Venus Bay in South Gippsland is about two hours from Melbourne and located between Inverloch and Wilsons Prom.
The coast is a rugged, exposed stretch of white sand beach with a predominant southwesterly wind.
The site slopes steeply away from the road and was subject to wildfire restrictions.
From the street, the house appears as a low-lying simple volume.
It hunkers down against the wind, but as you pass through the entry, the floor steps down with the fall of the site from the dining and kitchen level to the living spaces and then to a covered deck.
Each change in floor level results in higher ceiling heights as the view to the northeast is revealed.
The covered deck is key to the success of the house.
The MRTN Architects team designed this deck as a large outdoor room that is sunny in winter, shaded in summer, and out of the wind and rain.
This room is clad in a sustainably harvested and processed board and batten timber.
It was stained a dusty green in reference to the scrubby tea tree and wattles that surround it.
Venus Bay Beach House is loved and well used by MRTN Architects’ clients.
Whole families come and stay while other friends drop by for a visit.
The house accommodates packs of children staging plays from the deck, there are snacks and drinks at the outside table, while others retreat inside for a quiet read.
And this can all happen at the same time and that is what a bach is all about.
Project Details
Completion Date – 2012
Project Team
Architecture
MRTN Architects
MRTN Architects is a design focussed architecture and interior design studio founded by Antony Martin and located in Melbourne.
Photography
Nic Granleese
Nic is a commercial photographer based in Melbourne, Australia. He works with Australia’s best architects to create images that are used by magazines, newspapers, and television stations.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2022 MRTN Architects. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2022 Nic Granleese. All Rights Reserved.
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