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Halcyon Place by Templeton Architecture
Named after the mythological bird that charmed the wind and waves into a still calm, Halcyon Place by Templeton Architecture is an idyllically peaceful abode.
Situated in the seaside enclave of Point Lonsdale, Victoria, Halcyon Place is an elegant example of how contemporary design can harmonise with its environment while retaining sentimental value. The project, born out of a familial connection to a modest 1950s fibro beach shack, represents both a transformation of space and cherished memories.
“The project was loaded with emotional sentiment and expectation,” says Emma Templeton, lead architect behind the project. “Our challenge was to retain the existing, casual charm yet meet a far more ambitious programmatic outcome.” The new dwelling needed to capture both the nostalgia of past family holidays and the practical needs of a modern family home.
Point Lonsdale’s understated beauty, characterised by its low-lying dunes and abundant coastal vegetation, provided both inspiration and constraints. Designing a two-storey home with five bedrooms – including a bunkroom for six – within this context required careful consideration of form and materiality. “My biggest concern from the outset was how to deal with the form sensitively,” says Templeton, who wanted to ensure the structure didn’t overwhelm the landscape.
The approach Templeton Architecture adopted when creating the home was innovative and thoughtful. To minimise the building’s overall mass, the team created level changes, openings, voids and bridges that make the structure appear as a collection of interconnected, smaller volumes rather than a single imposing mass. “I’m proud of the generosity of the spaces that we’ve achieved on the site,” says Templeton, expressing her pride in the project. For example, “the family room is detached from the sequence of open-plan living spaces on the ground floor, linked only through an undercover external space.”
This design strategy not only responds to the corner site’s topography but also subtly integrates Halcyon Place into its surroundings. The building’s internal floor levels shift with the natural gradient of the land, anchoring the dwelling to the dunes and reducing its visual impact. The first-floor link, which acts like a bridge between the two distinct forms, helps to distinguish the private spaces for adults from those intended for the children and young adults.
“I’m proud of the generosity of the spaces that we’ve achieved on the site,” says Templeton, expressing her pride in the project.
Materiality plays an integral role in ensuring the home blends with its surroundings. The rough-sawn timber cladding, chosen for its delicate texture and ability to harmonise with the landscape, creates a shadowed facade that becomes the backdrop to the area’s vegetation. “The external cladding was almost the most pivotal decision to make for the project,” says Templeton. “We chose rough-sawn silvertop ash for its texture and the way it creates soft shadows; it’s just got a delicateness that I thought was really appealing.”
The L-shaped footprint of Halcyon Place takes advantage of northern light while ensuring privacy from passers-by. The absence of fences allows the garden to merge with the street, inviting a casual flow of visitors. “The main facade faces the busier of the two streets, while the cul-de-sac side [where the client’s friends live] is more transparent,” encouraging a welcoming atmosphere.
The L-shaped footprint of Halcyon Place takes advantage of northern light while ensuring privacy from passers-by.
Externally, the design accommodates various outdoor activities, with spaces dedicated to firepits, hammocks and dining. The inclusion of an outdoor laundry, complete with two showers and a concrete trough for wetsuits, reflects the practical needs of a coastal home. “The external spaces are crucial to the success of the dwelling, providing numerous places to gather around the building depending on the weather or occasion,” says Templeton.
Inside, the finishes are “tranquil, simple, durable and understated”, emphasising the home’s relaxed atmosphere. Corian benchtops were chosen for their beauty and ease of maintenance, ensuring that some aspects of the dwelling remain worry-free, even with the wear and tear of teenage kids and future young adults. “We enhanced the benchtops with the beautiful timber fronts, which attract the focus, while the benchtops are quiet, practical and relaxing. Then we offset that by having all the beautiful timber and joinery around the outside, which means you’re focused on that beautiful, natural timber and not worried about the benchtops. It’s really about creating a relaxed environment.”
An important aspect of Halcyon Place is the way it pays homage to the original beach shack. Despite the new design’s contemporary nature, Templeton and the clients considered how to retain elements and the spirit of the old house. Ultimately, the decision was made to commission an oil painting of the original dwelling, which now hangs in the entryway. “It felt much more appropriate than the other gestures we had tried to make,” says Templeton of the painting. “And then the end result was this beautiful piece of art.”
The humble home not only meets the needs of its occupants but also embraces the evolving narrative of their family life. As Templeton says, “it’s a huge amount of responsibility to create that backdrop for their memories.” With Halcyon Place, Templeton Architecture has designed a coastal residence that is both a sanctuary and a celebration of the past, blending with its natural and emotional landscapes to meet its inhabitants’ needs.
Architecture and interior design by Templeton Architecture. Build by Heyward Constructions. Landscape design by Ocean Road Landscaping. Flooring by Royal Oak Floors.
