Set within the coastal landscape of the Mornington Peninsula, Mount Martha House balances simplicity and connection, openness and closure.
From the outset, the light timber form of Mount Martha House appears almost absorbed by its coastal landscape. “The architecture celebrates proportion, alignments, and material honesty,” Melbourne architect Victoria Merrett says. “The modular grid enhances spatial order and efficiency, underpinning both the aesthetics and the practical execution of the build,” she adds.
The L-shaped plan embraces an established pin oak, framing a sheltered courtyard with pool and deck. Inside, the modular grid dictates a spatial awareness, guiding movement between living, dining, and bedroom zones with subtle additions of thresholds and vistas.
Exposed LVL rafters extend from exterior soffits into interiors, reinforcing the home’s architectural continuity. Built-in storage in the mudroom, pantry, and laundry allude to the home’s functionality.
Soft-hued WOODCUT floorboards and Signorino stone are used throughout the home. Pictured: Frama Adam counter stools.
The kitchen is illuminated by a HAY pendant, suspended above Castorina Mastro chairs designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa and a Mark Tuckey dining table.
Light and materiality enhance a sense of space and time. Large glazed windows outline the exterior of the home, drawing natural light into the heart of the living spaces and framing views of the garden by Simon Taylor Landscape Design with Centred Landscape. Floorboards from WOODCUT, Signorino stone, stainless steel, and tiles articulate a restrained palette that is durable yet also soft, referencing the textures and tones of the surrounding landscape. “The structure’s orientation and modular design maximise passive solar gain and cross-ventilation, ensuring a light filled, airy interior that flows between indoor and outdoor spaces,” Merrett says.
Bedrooms are arranged to maximise privacy while maintaining connection, with the main living areas oriented toward the green garden. The pin oak is central to the courtyard; its canopy observed through changing light. “Expansive glazing, the sheltered courtyard, and seamless transitions between living, deck, and pool all foster ongoing engagement with landscape and light,” Merrett says.
Timber-lined passages and continuous floor planes blur transitions, creating a sense of fluidity and continuity. At the same time, exposed LVL rafters extend from exterior soffits into interiors, reinforcing the home’s architectural continuity.
Mount Martha House exemplifies Victoria Merrett Architects’ ability to translate place, materiality, and daily living into architecture that feels effortlessly tied to its coastline.
The living areas, centered around a painting by Mark Maurangi Carroll, bring warmth and character to the home. Pictured: Armadillo rug, Mark Tuckey coffee table, Fritz Hansen PK22 chairs, and Moroso x Diesel sofa.
USM Haller nightstand and linen from In Bed store in the primary bedroom.
Iron Ash timber, Signorino stone, stainless steel, Eco Outdoor floor tiles, and white mosaic tiles articulate a palette that is durable yet also soft, referencing the coastal landscape.
Large glazed windows outline the exterior of the home, framing views of the garden by Simon Taylor Landscape Design with Centred Landscape.
The L-shaped plan embraces an established pin oak. Inside, the modular grid dictates a spatial awareness, guiding movement between living, dining, and bedroom zones with subtle additions of thresholds and vistas. Pictured: HAY Palissade sun lounge.
Material choices reflect Victoria Merrett Architecture’s holistic ethos as seen through the locally sourced timber cladding.
