Sanctuary in an Heirloom – Flinders Beach House by NOXON Architecture

Set among the coastal landscape of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Flinders Beach House is a family heirloom re-imagined with a contemporary sensibility. Rebelling against the new nearby buildings rearticulating Flinders Village, NOXON Architectures’s restoration and extension carefully considers the structure’s existing character whilst introducing a new contemporary sensibility that pairs old with new.

By retaining the street frontage of the original dwelling and designing a generous rear extension, an occasional weekender is transformed into a spacious retreat. The design is motivated by the aspiration to create an environment to disconnect and recharge, which sees the humble cottage aesthetic transform into a new contemporary expression.

The design is motivated by the aspiration to create an environment to disconnect and recharge, which sees the humble cottage aesthetic transform into a new contemporary expression.

The interior of the home sees volume and scale balanced with a play on light and dark. Naturally illuminated through the double-height void, both the lounge and kitchen spaces are clearly defined by function, with the dining area central to the heart of the extension. The design language continues with the solid timber kitchen benchtop and dining table, which provide subtle warmth and sooth the contrast between materiality and light. Timber is fluent throughout the interior, beautifully complementing the moods of each season and facilitating an interplay of natural light across curated voids. Upstairs, the timber flooring and bathroom vanity affirm the language at the lower level, beautifully supporting the restoration effort.

Carefully curated moments enforce the idea of smaller spaces being areas of retreat. NOXON Architecture manages a design that feels generous whilst also being intimate and social, balancing open areas yet providing moments for seclusion. Nestled into the home are nooks that seamlessly connect to the outdoors – a reading bay on the outer of the living room and a children’s play space provide relief from the open plan setting.

By retaining the street frontage of the original dwelling and designing a generous rear extension, an occasional weekender is transformed into a spacious retreat.

Reaching beyond these internal settings and sitting at the height of the void are two internal openings. Creating sightlines from the mezzanine level through to the living room and landscape beneath, an impression of the context flows throughout the interior and natural light is able to filter through to bedrooms and the bathroom.

Dark weatherboard textures define the cottage’s exterior character, whilst a similar modest palette through the extension ensures that the character of the old structure remains. Sensitive to the original scale, the extension sits behind the heritage structure. The rear of the property opens onto a timber deck and pergola, soaking in comfortable eastern light. It is another welcoming extension towards the outdoors and positively enchances the peninsula’s often moody and dimly lit seasons.

Flinders Beach House continues the legacy of a family heirloom. The residence features an extension that impacts without overshadowing the original character to create a renewed engagement with place.