Cape Schanck House by Studio Goss and Aspect Windows

Specialising in architectural timber windows and doors, Aspect Windows were able to address the unique challenges of the site, working collaboratively with Studio Goss director David Goss to bring his vision to life. The first challenge was the site’s Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) of 29, which necessitated using premium Select Grade blackbutt, an incredibly dense and fire-resistant timber. “It’s very heavy and quite a hard timber to work with, and the windows were massive, so it was a huge effort by the team,” says Aspect Windows general manager Matthew Brodie.

While blackbutt might be a tricky timber to work with, the result was worth it, adding its luxurious honey-brown tones and distinctive black pinholes to Studio Goss’s tactile material palette, warmly contrasting with the cooler tones of concrete, brick and terrazzo. “People love the feel of timber in their homes and the Studio Goss house really champions beautiful natural timber,” says Brodie, who adds that the virtues go beyond the beauty of the material. “There are thermal benefits, too – timber windows don’t conduct heat like aluminium windows do. Timber is renewable, natural and has low embodied energy compared to other materials that have considerable inputs. Timber windows are also highly customisable, making it possible to create bespoke products like the ones in Cape Schanck House.”

Specialising in architectural timber windows and doors, Aspect Windows were able to address the unique challenges of the site, working collaboratively with Studio Goss director David Goss to bring his vision to life.

This customisability was taken full advantage of in this stunning project, which is characterised by enormous windows set within deep reveals, framing the site’s incomparable outlook while enhancing the home’s sense of sanctuary. “They were really deep sections, so we had to custom laminate the timber to achieve window frame depths in excess of 300 millimetres. One of the windows was about 12 metres long, so we had to construct that onsite. The sliding door panels were so big that we had to laminate the depth of them to fit the thick glass in it – the doors were around 56 millimetres thick.”

While the supersized windows are the heroes of the build, the Aspect team’s innovative abilities were also showcased by two rather more discreet features. Virtually invisible when not in use, retractable flyscreens are integrated within the frames of each window, hidden in custom-built pockets so as not to ruin the architectural lines.

Perched atop the cliffs at Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula, this Studio Goss-designed build was always going to feature windows as an important architectural element rather than simply panes of glass.

The Aspect team also lent their talents to building innovative ventilation panels. These solid blackbutt panels blend seamlessly into the home’s design, their visual appeal hiding a practical purpose – essentially narrow doors, the hinged and handled panels open inwards, creating a unique way for air to flow through the home. “It was quite a coming-of-age job for Aspect, a chance to show the industry what we’re capable of, and deliver something different and really special,” says Brodie.

The team at Aspect Windows handcrafted and customised stunning structures in blackbutt timber specifically for the Cape Schanck House.