EMMA MORRIS

of Emma Morris Architecture

Tell us what the design achieves. The intent was to create a crystalline form in a simple and cohesive way. The ridgeline is slightly rotated, which generates shifting geometries and uplifting spaces from room to room. The house is nestled into the landscape, which gives privacy to the outdoor areas, and connects the living spaces with the garden. This design offers a counterpoint to many east coast beach houses, which have little privacy, gleaming glass fronts, and a disconnect to the surrounding land. There’s investment in the structure to give volume, while keeping the fittings and linings economic, and to allow space for change as needs change. For example, the raked ceilings allow for mezzanines to be added to accommodate more family members. There’s also space and wiring for future cabinetry. Were there any site complexities that dictated the plan? It’s in a subdivision of 600-square-metre lots, so the challenges were using the side walls and screens to create privacy. What did you find most satisfying about the project? That my parents love to go there. My mother has warmed to the wide Aalto-inspired terraces and tends vegetables in them. I’m lucky to be able to share the experience of staying there with my family and friends, and observing how spaces are used. It’s delightful when the imagined moments of the design phase materialise, such as morning sunlight slanting into the kitchen, the sliver of sun in the evening through a slot window. Even on moody days the colour of the light and shadows changes throughout the day.