An Expression of the Natural – Limestone House by Planned Living Architects

Creating a backdrop for social gathering and relaxation, Limestone House utilises its robust unique materiality to tell a story of its context and encase its inhabitants in a protective shell. Planned Living Architects encourages moments of connection with the natural environment to propose a coastal abode that creates a heightened sense of place.

Located on the tip of Mornington Peninsula in the popular beachside escape of Sorrento, Limestone House takes its name from the comprising elements of its structure, offering a contextually responsive and inclusive home. As a generous and welcoming respite, the home sits comfortably in its enviable location, creating the ideal milieu for both gathering and relaxation. The natural environment acts as a strong influence, not only to the planning and materiality but also to the way in which the home connects to its surrounds and embraces its location. Planned Living Architects combines a sensitive awareness of the areawith an expressive and warm approach to create a home imagined as both enduring and as testament to the harsh climate of the coast.

Located on the tip of Mornington Peninsula in the popular beachside escape of Sorrento, Limestone House takes its name from the comprising elements of its structure, offering a contextually responsive and inclusive home.

Built by CJL Constructions, Limestone House replaces an existing beach shack that previously occupied the site. After many years and plentiful use, the structure needed replacing and needed to be an extension of the values imbedded into the original property. The ideals of family, entertaining, the casual and convivial feel, the robustness and low maintenance and also a sense of welcoming were key to the brief for the new home, as was the connection to the site itself. The area’s untamed sand dunes offer inspiration for the design, where the colours and tonality of the built elements connect to the natural. The resulting landscape design by COS Design was built by Tintuppa Landscapes, acting as the softening buffer between the building edge and a nod to the natural unique shapes, colours and textures found in the area.

A palette of Australian hardwood timber combines with limestone sourced locally in Sorrento to comprise the outer shell. Surfaces are left rough internally as a reinforcing of the material’s natural nuances and a textural dynamism. The stone and timber are then met with an extensive use of glass to connect each of the areas and to the views beyond. The timber is chosen to allow for a natural ageing and greying over time, while the limestone sourced from local quarries highlights the early industry of pioneers in the area. The home is comprised of both indoor and outdoor rooms, all coming together and navigated along vertical planes, leading through passive retreat spaces into larger spaces for gathering groups.

As a generous and welcoming respite, the home sits comfortably in its enviable location, creating the ideal milieu for both gathering and relaxation.

Limestone House offers both private and public enclaves, while being both grand and intimate at the same time. Planned Living Architects has created a beautifully appropriate coastal home that interprets the history, nostalgia and landscape through a sensitive lens.

The natural environment acts as a strong influence, not only to the planning and materiality but also to the way in which the home connects to its surrounds and embraces its location.