Norfolk by Travis Walton Architecture

In Sorrento on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula – where a centenarian Norfolk pine stands sentinel – a pared-back aesthetic from interior decorator Simone Haag offsets a brutalist expression by Travis Walton Architecture in this striking residence.

Conceived alongside homeowner Bear Agushi – director of boutique residential builder Agushi Constructions – the brief for Norfolk was to create a coastal family home that captured views of the bay, the Melbourne skyline and nearby golf course. “We were inspired by Sorrento’s striking natural beauty and we wanted to reflect that in the architecture and, through a holistic approach, bring that into the interiors,” says Travis Walton, director of Travis Walton Architecture.

The main living area is elevated, offering panoramic vistas of Sorrento Golf Club and across to the waters of Bass Strait.

Approaching the house from the street, one is met by what Walton refers to as a ‘castle wall’, made from off-form concrete. “You are led to believe that the building is merely a concrete wall, with the upper wall fully recessed from view, but once you are in the compound and behind the wall, the property starts to open up,” says Walton.

Stepping inside, an unconventional entry leads to a concrete sculptural staircase that takes one to the main living space. The living area is elevated, offering panoramic vistas of Sorrento Golf Club and across to the waters of Bass Strait. The laid-back feel and rugged coastal landscape of Sorrento is also reflected in rather unstructured landscaping by Nathan Burkett Landscape Architecture, dominated by existing trees and low-maintenance planting.

Durable materials are favoured, chosen to withstand the harsh coastal conditions. “The brutal, rough texture of the off-form concrete is offset by the warm tones of the natural timber cladding,” says Walton. “We wanted something that would mimic the texture of the off-form concrete in the surrounding walls, so we used timber flooring from Made by Storey’s Touch Collection… the dark natural hues are the perfect complement to our material palette.”

Joinery and finishes are restrained, dominated by aged metal, blackened steel and dark stone. “A lot of what went into this house was me using my hands, staying here night after night and crafting things just to be able to get the finishes that I knew I wanted, like the patina around the staircase or the brass installation around the cabinetry,” says Agushi.

Furniture, art, objects and styling all take a reductive approach, echoing a slightly tribal aesthetic that mixes vintage and modern styles. “We wanted to bring pieces in from all four corners of the globe that haven’t been seen before, as well as pieces that you wouldn’t ordinarily associate with a beach house,” says interior decorator Simone Haag. Rather than overdecorating, the home features bold, singular pieces. “We love the Mexican chairs, we love having flow and drama and the slow reveal of pieces, and a really quiet palette that doesn’t take away from the environment that surrounds the house.”

The result is a bold, robust home that courageously reinterprets the beach-house vernacular. “This is a house that’s going to wear in and patina and evolve over time, rather than wear out, and I like to think of architecture as something that stands the test of time,” reflects Walton. Agushi adds, “I hope that this is a property my family can enjoy for generations.”

Architecture by Travis Walton Architecture. Build by Agushi Constructions. Furniture, art and objects by Simone Haag. Landscape design by Nathan Burkett Landscape Architecture. Production by The Local Production.