inverloch townhouses

2001

inverloch

'A ROOF WITH A VIEW' Three new apartment houses by the beach, designed to celebrate traditions of Australian holiday-house architecture by reflecting on the indigenous use of flat materials, cement walls, deep shadows cast over the building, openings which allow cross ventilation and rooftop balconies. These houses are sculptured from the fabric of coastal architecture, the timber boards, glass louvred screens, colored cement walls and concrete that suits the climate and the locale. But these are also finely crafted villas, intended for use by people who live predominantly in the city and escape to their coastal retreat to enable a recreation of   their energies. There is discrete space, tempered light, privacy, fine detailing and three dimensional interactive spaces. The architecture is sustainable, meaning it is designed for a long life-loose fit, with materials finishes and details selected to ensure long-lasting qualities both aesthetically and physically. The climate is used to enable ease of cooling and natural heating, energy usage is reduced by adapting low-energy designs for cross ventilation, natural daylight and solar heating. The architecture is contemporary but it harks back to beach traditions for simplicity, tough materials, large open spaces and airy rooms, good garden access and ease of living.

Norman Day Melbourne May 2001