Calm Retreat – Flinders Residence by Susi Leeton Architects and Interiors
Balancing the dense landscape it sits amongst and the expanse of the ocean to its front, Flinders Residence is formed through both open and closed elements. Susi Leeton Architects and Interiors navigates the challenging site through a understate and refined approach, emphasising warmth, elegance and an embodied calm.
In its enviable siting in Flinders, the same-named home aims to capture the essence of its location as a place of naturally inspired and composed tranquillity. While the home embodies the lightness expected of such a location, with an openness and extensive glazing, the focus also remains on ensuring the home felt warm and engaging as a residence for its owners. Set amongst an established landscape setting, both natural and curated, the form aims to be engaging and a place of transportation, where once inside, the feelings of protection from the elements and enclosure are duly emphasised. Susi Leeton Architects and Interiors focuses on creating an understated family home that opens with ease to its own garden and pool, with constant reminders of place through extensive, generous glazing elements throughout.
As a carefully considered arrangement across the site, Flinders Residence is built by Neil Williams & Sons, and landscape design by Emma Ferguson ensures its insertion is nuanced. With views looking out towards the Bass Strait, the living room sits elevated on the upper floor as a place of openness and engagement. The more retreating, passive spaces, such as the bedrooms, are located on the lower level, embedding them more into the site and burrowing them amongst the landscape. Although there is a lightness throughout that matches the coastal aesthetic, there is an overarching elevation and departure from the traditional beach-front home that is achieved through a refinement throughout.
Optimising the northern aspect, the home ensures a maximised solar capture across the site, and with operable elements, allows a natural ventilation to also occur. Externally, the materiality aims to capture the spirit of a more traditional Australian rural home, particularly in its allowance of the landscape to envelope the form. Internally, however, a crisp and minimal approach ensures the contemporary comforts of a new home remain present, with particular emphasis on the views. Integrating five bedrooms, multiple living areas and study areas, a private pool and garden were key to the functioning of the family home. While outward looking, a protective and encasing approach binds each of the elements of the home together into one breathing unit.
