The Keep by Inarc Architects

The Keep by Inarc Architects is a home for two that also serves as a gathering place, deeply grounded in its coastal landscape.

Responding to the site’s coastal conditions and the clients’ desire for a robust, enduring home, the dwelling is partially embedded into the hillside. With a land covenant in place and the presence of protected trees, the residence’s layout follows the natural slope of the site, adopting an east-west orientation, while the tree protection zone informs the design of the entry sequence and driveway.

Responding to the site’s coastal conditions and the clients’ desire for a robust, enduring home, the dwelling is partially embedded into the hillside.

Located in south-eastern Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula, the spatial planning balances practicality with character, functioning as a residence for two while also accommodating visits from their adult children and overseas-based family. Arranged into three main zones, the layout includes a central living area with kitchen, dining and lounge; a main bedroom with adjoining study; and a lower ground level with self-contained living and bedroom suites for guests.

Layered with personal artefacts, the main level includes “vestibules to house ancient cabinets and sculptures,” says design architect John Gatip, with recessed seating integrated into the joinery. The study, also on the main level off the primary bedroom, features adjustable shelving for books, while the bathroom is oriented for privacy, offering views over the valley to Bass Strait beyond the heathland.

“Historically, a keep was a fortified refuge [that] stored food, water, treasured objects and supplies. The name emerged out of this idea.”

Pass-through windows in the kitchen, along with the placement of appliances, were meticulously planned for daily functionality and enable seamless interaction with the outdoor entertaining area. Outside, a double-sided fireplace serves both the dining and lounge areas, creating a central architectural feature.

“Historically, a keep was a fortified refuge [that] stored food, water, treasured objects and supplies. The name emerged out of this idea” says architectural director Reno Rizzo. It reflects the role of the home as a place to preserve and celebrate memories while offering comfort and shelter.

With a strong emphasis on context and place, Inarc Architects chose a material palette that reflects the surrounding environment, drawing on weathered tones and textures.

With a strong emphasis on context and place, Inarc Architects chose a material palette that reflects the surrounding environment, drawing on weathered tones and textures – concrete, metal cladding and blackbutt timber externally, with warm interior finishes that echo the “heartwood of the existing moonah trees”. Materials were also selected for their durability and low-maintenance qualities while meeting bushfire requirements and energy ratings. This included locally sourced bricks and timber, a solar hot water system, high-spec aluminium windows and careful construction around the protected moonah trees, further reflecting the practice’s environmentally responsive approach.

Enhancing the home’s efficiency, the spaces can be reconfigured through sliding doors to expand or contract as needed, accommodating the clients year-round or allowing them to host “large gatherings of friends and their kids’ families”.

Architecture and interior design by Inarc Architects. Build by Leone Constructions.