Glenblaith by Coy Yiontis Architects

With its deft forms immortalised in noble materials, Glenblaith is an introverted residence that challenges the conventions of suburban living and landscape.

Drawn to the meticulously crafted work of Coy Yiontis Architects, the homeowners approached the established practice to design a forever home in Geelong’s tree-lined suburb of Manifold Heights. With another dwelling on the coast for entertaining, “Glenblaith was conceived as a place just for them,” recalls George Yiontis, director of Coy Yiontis Architects alongside Rosa Coy. The clients’ “simple yet atypical brief” expressed a desire for privacy over engagement with the wider neighbourhood – and as avid gardeners, for the landscape to define their experience of home.

The clients’ “simple yet atypical brief” expressed a desire for privacy over engagement with the wider neighbourhood – and as avid gardeners, for the landscape to define their experience of home.

From the street, Glenblaith holds an enigmatic presence. Embracing the full width of the site, the robust concrete house gives way to pale brick walls that screen the home’s two wings. At its centre, a battened timber screen offers an intriguing glimpse of the entry forecourt beyond – a transition space with a dramatic oculus spanning nearly five metres in diameter and setting the tone for the ambience. When the screen is opened, the rambling front garden seems to run into the forecourt as a continuation of the landscape. A garage is discreetly tucked to the west, “hidden in the entry sequence,” explains Yiontis, while a semi-glazed central volume casts views through to the home’s courtyard garden brimming with soft foliage.

“When you step into the house, you’re essentially in the garden – you have a view of every room from that initial position,” he describes. This powerful aspect reaffirms the plan’s symmetry, offering a marked halting point between the public wing to the west and the private wing to the east. Along the glazed facades addressing the courtyard, Coy Yiontis Architects introduced concrete colonnades as brise soleils that modulate light entry. While this arrangement was born from practical beginnings, it planted the idea of the design sitting “almost like an architectural ruin pervaded by nature – a container of the garden with the interiors set behind”.

the design sitting “almost like an architectural ruin pervaded by nature – a container of the garden with the interiors set behind”.

Indeed, the perpetuity of the concrete architecture is softened by sprawling planting realised by Eckersley Garden Architecture, complete with stepping stones, climbing trellises and a reflection pond for the clients’ goldfish. Timber accents soften and warm the building, lending continuity between indoor and outdoor volumes. A timber deck bridges the two wings, reinforced by a pergola that sails over the courtyard and into the internal dining area. The interior’s slatted timber wall cladding echoes the language of the facade screen and forecourt, complemented by wooden doors and cabinetry, offering “a point of connection between the various elements,” says Yiontis.

The kitchen scullery, bench and island sit as freestanding elements atop polished concrete floors within the public wing. Beyond, a run of full-height cabinetry neatly houses appliances and an integrated bar that faces the adjacent dining space. Here, a suspension light floats below the timber ceiling battens, heightening the feeling of warmth and intimacy. The ceiling rises on either side, affording the integration of highlight ribbon windows that invite natural light to permeate the kitchen and lounge spaces. At the northern end, a bespoke brick- lined fireplace encourages the homeowners to take refuge, rest and delight in framed views to their much-loved backyard.

The interior’s slatted timber wall cladding echoes the language of the facade screen and forecourt, complemented by wooden doors and cabinetry, offering “a point of connection between the various elements,” says Yiontis.

Across the courtyard, Glenblaith’s private wing comprises a guest bedroom, bathroom, study, library and main bedroom suite immersed in the garden. Sheer drapery tempers light and privacy, while a veil of hit-and-miss brickwork screens views to the street. Given the home is solely occupied by the homeowners and occasional guests, the winged arrangement casts long-ranging views through and between spaces, affording a sense of openness and engagement across the site.

While concrete, timber, brick and crisp white render prevail, Glenblaith’s interior expression is balanced by accents of honed natural stone, brass and glass – finer grain finishes that craft moments of intrigue and occasion. This approach is celebrated in the main ensuite, where a skylight bathes the grey marble-lined shower alcove in light, exploring the idea of “being both connected to and protected from the elements,” says Yiontis. Similarly, the powder room, enveloped in green marble and washed in light, offers a dramatic, enveloping counterpoint.

While concrete, timber, brick and crisp white render prevail, Glenblaith’s interior expression is balanced by accents of honed natural stone, brass and glass – finer grain finishes that craft moments of intrigue and occasion.

While the clients were responsible for the home’s furniture, art and decor, Glenblaith’s interior design, finishes and fittings frame these pieces with intention. Coy Yiontis Architects has thoughtfully crafted a feeling of approachability and refinement – a fitting reflection of the clients’ Australian-designed furniture, from the likes of Armadillo, Jardan and Grazia&co, alongside pieces from international and boutique brands. The effect is restrained yet welcoming, with the decorative touches lending sentimental inflections and representing the location.

Though Glenblaith intentionally embraces an inward focus, the project follows Coy Yiontis Architects’ belief that architecture has a responsibility to the wider community. Generously set back from the street, the landscape is offered as a public gesture to be enjoyed by neighbours and passers-by. The house also reduces its ecological impact by embracing passive solar strategies and favouring sustainable, renewable energy sources for improved performance, a standard across the firm’s work that exemplifies their commitment to futureproofing.

Though Glenblaith intentionally embraces an inward focus, the project follows Coy Yiontis Architects’ belief that architecture has a responsibility to the wider community.

“Unlike many projects, market considerations were not a primary driver of this brief,” reveals Yiontis, attesting this condition “liberated us to design a place with longevity that resonated solely with the homeowners”. While Coy Yiontis Architects often focuses on courtyard design, privacy and approach in their suburban work, the simplicity of this particular brief enabled the team to pursue these elements with creativity and rigour. The result is an elemental and expressive home that imbues the clients’ daily rituals with a sense of repose, heightening everyday encounters.

Architecture and interior design by Coy Yiontis Architects. Build by David Webb Building Solutions. Structural landscape design by Eckersley Garden Architecture. Engineering by Meyer Consulting. Joinery by Pavilion Joinery. Artwork by Kirra Jamison, Cricket Saleh, Carolyn Marrone and Jiri Tibor Novak.