PROJECT FEATURE ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN FEATURES

A Modernist Coastal Retreat – Portsea Beach House by Studio Esteta

Words by Thida Sachathep

Photography by Sean Fennessy

On the coastline of Port Philip Bay, the Portsea Beach House by Studio Esteta honours its history and surrounds. Embracing the idea that form follows function, refined design features showcase the character of the home and its past.

The client’s brief revolved around preserving the existing building footprint while bringing new life into the double-storey residence. With only a few new modifications, Studio Esteta makes room for a poised six-bedroom anchorage. The kitchen, dining and living areas remained on the first floor, but the space is maximised and enhanced by the mid-century inspired staircase feature. The resulting transformed layout enhances the connection between the ground floor and the environment outside, emphasising the home’s engagement with the exceptional coastal site.

New bright renovations not only created new living spaces for the clients to host visitors, but also employs a light coastal colour palette that complements the mid-century aesthetic.

Equally informed by the modernist era of the existing building, Studio Esteta draws in references the surrounding coastline of Port Phillip Bay with their design.

The light palette and selection of materials honour the seaside location. Pavers throughout the residence speak to the colours and textures of the site, while white bagged-brick walls, warm timber panelling and accents of natural stone generate a tactile aesthetic. With each material complementing the individual qualities of the others, they work harmoniously to lay the foundations of a sophisticated coastal seaside residence. Paying homage to all things mid-century but with a coastal twist, Studio Esteta ensures that the balance between old and new result in an unrivalled residential identity.

The client’s brief revolved around preserving the existing building footprint while bringing new life into the double-storey residence.

As the clients requested, certain wall hooks and glazed mosaic tiles were used as a point of reference for the new furnishings. Decorative lighting and key furniture features were sourced from vintage ateliers, with curated classic pieces such as the ‘Lampe De Marseille’ wall lamp by Le Corbusier and the ‘Circle Chair’, ‘Panton Chair’ and ‘Entre 1B Oak’ bedside table by Hans J. Wegner all speaking to an appreciation for mid-century design. Alongside this, art pieces (inclusive of ‘Boat Sheds on Fisherman’s Beach’ by Sally Joubert) inject even more charisma into the home.

The light palette and selection of materials honour the seaside location.

Reflecting the clients’ connection to both the original home and the town of Portsea, the project captures the essence of the modernist home’s past while reprogramming the house to meet the needs of the clients today and imbuing the spaces with a contemporary coastal aesthetic.