Textural Heft – Seagrass House by Welsh + Major

In an expression of resilience, Seagrass House is balanced through a positioning between a coastal landscape and the immediate elevated surrounds filled with dense vegetation. Inspired by the supporting ledge the form sits upon, Welsh + Major instils a similar grounded and unwavering approach into the architectural response to place.

Like much of the distinct Australian bushland, there is a risk in choosing to live amid the elements. In deciding to build on such a newly cleared site, the residence looks out over the coast to the front, whilst the rear nestles into an existing, coarse terrain. Seagrass House is both responsive and purposeful in its resolve as it connects to the natural surrounds, respectfully weaving in natural materials with their own nuances and textures. Welsh + Major follows a pattern of movement as the team crafts the resulting home, imbuing it with its own identity and presence.

Seagrass House is both responsive and purposeful in its resolve as it connects to the natural surrounds, respectfully weaving in natural materials with their own nuances and textures.

Integrating a sense of permanence through materiality and form, the architect has encased the dwelling primarily in red brick, using both traditional and experimental stacking methods, merging the two styles. Together with crisp rectilinear openings, the new form is both a contemporary and familiar residential offering with considered detailing. With each opening carefully orchestrated, the solidity of the masonry protects, buffers and enhances the overall thermal mass, containing temperatures throughout the year. By framing views outward from the main living spaces, the orientation and planning of the house creates a bespoke, sculptural form that contrasts the more untamed surrounds.

Inside, a combination of brickwork and timber instils a sense of warmth. A manipulation of the form across the levels ensures the building aligns with the slope of the site, projecting the more passive areas on the upper level further into the tree canopies at the rear. On the opposite side, larger apertures invite the distant view inward and cool an otherwise warm palette.

Integrating a sense of permanence through materiality and form, the architect has encased the dwelling primarily in red brick, using both traditional and experimental stacking methods, merging the two styles.

Capturing the solidity of the nearby headland and rockface, Seagrass House responds to its surrounds with intuition, enabling the owners to occupy an otherwise challenging site. Through an arrangement of form and textured materiality, the home perches in place with a sense of ease, yet it is an expression of what it is like to live amid such an unyielding and natural backdrop.