Creative Escape – Bassano Red Hill by Tom Robertson Architects

Atop the contours of Red Hill, Victoria, sits a new offering of accommodation a world away from the urban chaos of nearby Melbourne and unique to the surrounding Mornington Peninsula.

Bassano Red Hill is a reincarnation of a tired twin set of cabins redesigned for dual purpose; a private escape occupies one side of the building, while an artist-in-residence workshop holds the other. Tom Robertson Architects has pushed unexpected materiality to deliver this split existence, one of luxurious escape and another of creativity.

Embracing the drama of light and the sensuality of tactile materiality, Bassano Red Hill emerges as an experience inimitable and enriching in equal measure.

This newly renovated bed and breakfast, designed with the input of renowned stylist Simone Haag, is a distinctly different bucolic experience. A farmhouse aesthetic is evident but becomes an amalgamation of Italian fixtures and contemporary pieces from local designers Zachary Frankel and Sarah Ellison. The resulting effect is diverse yet cohesive, elevating the sense of luxury and the level of detail in the design.

Light is key in achieving Bassano’s rich palette and a sensual approach to brutalism. Tom Robertson Architects has dramatically shaped the way the sun enters and bounces through both cabins, using a strategic contrast of light and dark tones to create a balanced sense of calm. Exposed white rafters carrying a hint of rustic charm are pitted against raw and contemporary materials. The native landscaping outside and the warm timbers inside contrast against a more industrial aesthetic seen in the cabinetry and the deep, hard-edged concrete bath.

Light is key in achieving Bassano’s rich palette and a sensual approach to brutalism.

An immersive experience for guests, artists and makers, Bassano is eclectically layered through a considered approach to materials, objects, lighting and functionality of space. While the site offers expansive views over the rolling landscape, the cabins are devised around the ability to retreat into private sanctuaries. For this reason, Tom Robertson Architects conceived multiple areas within their respective spaces, all with slightly different offerings.

Embracing the drama of light and the sensuality of tactile materiality, Bassano Red Hill emerges as an experience inimitable and enriching in equal measure.