Mount Martha House by Victoria Merrett Architects

Located on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Mount Martha House by Victoria Merrett Architects is a contemporary coastal home designed to embrace nature, light and the rhythms of family life.

Taking cues from the robust forms and material palette of mid-century Australian beach houses – characterised by timber cladding, exposed rafters and generous verandahs – the design reinterprets these elements with clean lines, a pared-back palette and refined detailing. Designed for a family of four, the brief called for a functional and cost-effective home that embraced a relaxed coastal lifestyle while accommodating the family’s evolving needs. Key priorities included generous living spaces, ample storage and a strong connection between indoors and out.

“We designed an L-shaped, single-level home that wraps around an established pin oak tree, creating a private outdoor area with a deck and pool.”

Defined by an L-shaped layout, the home’s open-plan living, kitchen and dining areas are arranged around a central deck and pool – encouraging family connection and effortless entertaining. “In response, we designed an L-shaped, single-level home that wraps around an established pin oak tree, creating a private outdoor area with a deck and pool,” says Victoria Merrett, director of Victoria Merrett Architects. “The layout maximises natural light and visual connections between living spaces, while dedicated storage zones like a mud room, pantry and laundry address the practical needs of family life.”

The four-bedroom layout is designed to support both privacy and flexibility. Two of the bedrooms include private ensuites, while the main suite is set apart to offer a retreat-like experience with garden views. A discreet guest suite sits at the opposite end of the home, reflecting its occasional use. “The site’s most significant feature – a mature pin oak tree – became a focal point for the design,” says Merrett. “We shaped the home’s L-shaped footprint to embrace and preserve the tree, creating a central courtyard that anchors the outdoor living spaces.”

Materiality is honest and practical, chosen for longevity and ease of maintenance.

Materiality is honest and practical, chosen for longevity and ease of maintenance. Timber was prioritised as a renewable, low-carbon material, complemented by a restrained palette of stainless steel, natural stone and white mosaic tiles that reflect the coastal setting and reinforce a relaxed, timeless aesthetic. The exterior is clad in Iron Ash timber, with a crisp white weatherboard fascia as well as painted LVL rafters.

Inside, exposed rafters continue overhead, adding visual depth and furthering the connection between indoors and out. Merrett explains, “these not only create a sense of lightness and openness but also celebrate the home’s structural framework. Rather than relying on the typical approach of supporting the rafters with visible structural elements below, we incorporated a concealed beam above in the roof space, from which the rafters are suspended. This innovative detail eliminates the need for an additional row of structure in the elevation, further enhancing the airy, open feel of the space.”

Designed for a family of four, the brief called for a functional and cost-effective home that embraced a relaxed coastal lifestyle while accommodating the family’s evolving needs.

Designed for passive solar performance, the home is carefully oriented, with double-glazed windows and cross-ventilation maximising natural light and airflow while reducing a reliance on artificial heating and cooling.

Calm and enduring, Mount Martha House is grounded in its coastal setting – a practical, light-filled design built to evolve with the family.

Architecture and interior design by Victoria Merrett Architects. Build by Momentum Building Group. Landscape design by Simon Taylor Landscape Design. Landscape construction by Centred Landscapes. Rug by Armadillo. Stone by Signorino. Tiles by Eco Outdoor.