The Seat
WHERE OLD MEETS NEW /
WHERE OLD MEETS NEW /
This 1980s brown-brick farmhouse nestled in the rolling hills of Mornington Peninsula, turned its back on some of the best views in Victoria. Our clients wanted to insert a modern, yet seamlessly integrated new dimension that celebrated and centred the view and connected them to nature. They also desired a home that was undeniably for living, where living areas are prioritised above all else, creating a space that welcomes family in and encourages connection.
Our goal was to blur the line between old and new, inside and outside, simplicity and complexity. The colour palette is dark, cosy and calm. It limits light reflection, diminishing strain on the eyes and elevating the expansive windows, views and natural light to centre stage. It creates seclusion where desired, such as in the more private living spaces, and feels expansive in other moments, as when the foyer opens up into the home’s dramatic cathedral ceilings.
The design retains some characteristics of a farmhouse, yet adapts to the urban family lifestyle. The kitchen and pantry are practical, but they are also part of the social hub. Designed as a full-sized bar, this zone is functional with a gentleman’s club aesthetic, accommodating family gatherings and events.
The messy existing roofline was consolidated by a steel fascia pergola structure that envelops the existing building. It extends the roofline and shelters the open space at the entrance, creating a private northern courtyard. Over time, the plants at its base will grow, creeping up to the roofline and enhancing the home’s privacy with flora so it feels contained but never confined.
We’ve honoured the iconic Mornington Peninsula landscape in every aspect of The Seat. The lining board ceiling references the coastal cladding characteristic of homes in this area and the folding origami roofline echoes the undulating hills and valleys of the site. Inserting and rotating the new volume faces the home towards the panoramic view and directly frames the horizon.
