Ageing Gracefully – Flinders by Workroom

Imagined as a low maintenance and robust family holiday home, Workroom’s Flinders project has firmly sunken its heels into its site. Over ten years have passed since its completion, the clients are more enamoured than ever with the home, whose strong materiality and robust proportions create a sense of sanctuary on the rugged Victorian coastline.

Set within the hard and uncompromising climatic conditions of Flinders in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, there silent occasional home was intended from its inception to be an enduring lock-and-leave property. Having developed a strong and collaborative relationship with the client, Workroom has since remained a close contact, regularly staying at the property, and developed a continued working relationship on other projects over time. So far, the home has stood true to its purpose and has been the reliable and steadfast place of escape for its owners it was intended, while more recently being the ideal place to escape the city for an extended period of time. Workroom had set to create a home of minimal simplicity and as a result of a shared love of the home, have been able to see it age ever so gracefully. In reflecting back, owner Malva says, “it’s not just the house, it’s the land and everything that surrounds. We never had had a holiday home prior, and we now have olive trees and cattle, which has been wonderful. The home has its own sense of place, which is kind of meditative in a way.”

“It’s not just the house, it’s the land and everything that surrounds. The home has its own sense of place, which is kind of meditative in a way.”

Built by MMD Construction, Flinders is grounded on a sense of permanence born from a want to create a home that did not feel new and had a natural connection to the landscape. Instead, taking cues from the immediate area and in response to the climate, the home emerges as a place that interacts with its surroundings, laying closely to the terrain and encouraging a natural patina and weathering with time. Malva explains, “the conditions are harsh, but it’s worn really well. The concrete has been amazing against the elements. We got to really test it out living there permanently back in March, and we realised how blessed we really are to have the house and enjoy it full time. Although life is relatively back to normal, we were still coming back occasionally, commuting between family in Carlton in Melbourne. For us, it really is perfection, and there’s nothing we would change.”

The house itself is able to be compressed and expanded, to allow for smaller or larger groups when the extended family is staying together. Malva says, “the spaces are so well considered and how they all work together is great. The main entrance opens up to our bedroom and living area, so when it’s just my husband and myself, we tend to live in that section. We have an expanding family, and with the kids visiting the spaces work perfectly with everyone coming and going.” Key to the brief is the not only flexibility but comfort, a live able sense to the space, and a connection to the ocean. Malva adds, “the proportions are prefect. I would build it again in another place. It just works so well, and we have enjoyed it so much from day one. It’s been twelve or so years, and I’m so in love with my house.”

“The proportions are prefect. I would build it again in another place. It’s just works so well, and we have enjoyed it so much from day one. It’s been twelve or so years, and I’m so in love with my house.”

Outwardly focused while very much being grounded to its site, Workroom’s intent was for the building to make itself a permanent addition to its landscape, offering a protective enclave from the elements. In responding to an open and flexible brief, the weighted concrete and glass formal response has been able to offer itself as more than just shelter, but as a destination and sanctuary in itself.