House in Anglesea
Set within the coastal scrub of Victoria’s Anglesea, this careful rebuild of a modest mid-century beach house by Matt Goodman Architecture Office balances retention with renewal.
What began as a simple alterations-and-additions brief evolved into a study of how an inherited structure – much loved but increasingly impractical – could be preserved in spirit while performing to contemporary standards. The result is a home that feels at once familiar and entirely reconsidered, shaped by a desire to improve rather than reinvent.
The clients were deeply connected to the original dwelling and its outlook over a garden of Moonah trees. Their request to open the interior to the view became the project’s anchor. Matt Goodman Architecture Office reworked the roof and increased the ceiling height – a modest adjustment that fundamentally changed how the interior holds light and air. New windows were designed with slimmer frames, drawing the eye outward. Together, these gestures create a more generous threshold between inside and out, allowing the landscape to settle naturally into the rhythm of daily life.
While the house has been largely rebuilt, its mid-century cues remain clear. The spacing of the exposed trusses and the original window proportions became generative elements, setting the cadence for the new structure. Columns and existing geometry shaped the revised layout, ensuring the footprint retained the L-shaped form that defined the earlier home. In doing so, Matt Goodman Architecture Office avoided any sense of abrupt change; instead, the architecture feels as though it has matured from within.
Much of the work focused on resolving aspects that were previously underdeveloped. Poor insulation, awkward add-ons and material inconsistencies were addressed with clarity and restraint. Bagged brick, blackbutt ceiling linings and hard-wearing aluminium-framed glazing form an honest palette suited to the coastal environment and bushfire zoning requirements. The construction is intentionally robust, with materials selected not only for their durability but for the way they will weather over time, settling gently into the surrounding landscape.
Throughout, the detailing is deliberately subtle – refined but never ornamental – underscoring the practice’s belief in purposeful, long-lasting design. The living areas now flow directly to the courtyard where mature native trees cast shifting patterns across the interior. Bedrooms and bathrooms are arranged simply, their calmness stemming from proportion rather than embellishment. Storage, circulation and joinery are integrated with subtlety, contributing to an ease that complements the home’s coastal setting.
Each space is understated yet resolved, reflecting Matt Goodman Architecture Office’s interest in creating homes that age gracefully and remain adaptable as the family evolves. The project demonstrates how rebuilding can strengthen character rather than diminish it, especially when guided by a commitment to honour what is already meaningful.
House in Anglesea shows how thoughtful reconstruction can extend a building’s life while reaffirming its essence. By respecting the home’s origins and carefully improving performance, Matt Goodman Architecture Office has crafted a dwelling that acknowledges its past while readying it for the decades ahead – a coastal retreat that feels both grounded and renewed.
Architecture by Matt Goodman Architecture Office. Build by Great Ocean Road Builders. Landscape design by CD Landscapes.
