Contained and Textural – Sorrento Residence by Project 12 Architecture

Respecting its coastal locale and the surrounding casual openness of the neighbouring homes, Sorrento Residence becomes a passion project for its owner. Project 12 Architecture ensures optimised orientation takes advantage of the natural aspects while the clean and linear approach ensures a longevity and relevance through the encasing materiality.

Set amongst the back beach of Sorrento, the same-named home combines a familiar coastal casualness together with a sense of refinement found within contemporary urban homes. Despite its removed location, the home stands as a considered and well-crafted series of gestures to elevate the coastal residential experience. Built by the owner, the crisp formal response replaces an existing fibro sheeted beach shack. Having lived in the home for multiple years prior, the young family were able to properly understand the site, its aspects, orientation and incoming ventilation opportunities prior to sculpting their final resolve. Project 12 Architecture combines an appropriate robustness together with considered and sleeker elements to optimise the potential of the site.

Having lived in the home for multiple years prior, the young family were able to properly understand the site, its aspects, orientation and incoming ventilation opportunities prior to sculpting their final resolve.

Sorrento Residence sits nestled in amongst the existing dunes and follows the slight slope of the block in the process. Upon approach as the main entry, a contained form of charred timber battens screens the front of the home and hints at the movement behind while offering a sense of privacy. The use of linear timber elements connects back to the traditional coastal design language where the remnants of ship-wrecked boats would be used as the main material for holiday homes along the beach. As an evolution of this narrative, the screen acts as both a façade screen and fence, as well as the main threshold needed to cross to enter the home. Its charred finish also sees the timber naturally seal itself from the elements and add an extra layer of protection.

Beyond the prominent encasing screen, a recycled brick and silver-top ash home sits anchored to its site, offering a weighted front to the salted air of its context. Designed to be operable, the screen can be opened and closed off as needed throughout the year. An L-shape plan then unfolds once inside, creating a protective outdoor landscape area with an integrated pool, allowing the living area of the home to extend beyond and allow occupation across the seasons. A balance of the robust and hearty against the more softened and lighter tactile elements ensures the familiarity of home is felt throughout.

A balance of the robust and hearty against the more softened and lighter tactile elements ensures the familiarity of home is felt throughout.

Combining privacy and an open social heart, Sorrento Residence brings the best of family life together within the coastal structure. Project 12 Architecture has created an enduring home that idyllically captures a sense of place.