Green Velvet House
Green Velvet House
The Green Velvet House, Barwon Heads, 2016 - 2018
Set among the coastal Tea Tree and Moonah canopy of the Mornington Peninsula, the Green Velvet House is a carefully considered family home shaped by topography, light, and vegetation. The building sits within a natural depression in the site, allowing it to be embedded into the landscape while maintaining a sense of calm elevation above it.
A cement-sheet clad volume, articulated by exposed structural timber bays, rests atop a solid Bluestone plinth—its rhythm deliberate, almost meditative. The plinth conceals a basement level and grounds the home to the site, visually anchoring the lighter forms above. The roof plane carries a subtle twist, responding to the contour of the land while enabling generous passive solar gain and effective weather protection. In its form, orientation, and restraint, the house is quiet and recessive—a backdrop to the landscape rather than a statement within it.
The building’s footprint has been purposefully minimized. In response to a compact program, the form has been consolidated vertically rather than spread, preserving the irregular character of the land. The existing topography has been largely retained, with planting used to knit built and unbuilt space together. From within, every view is held by the surrounding green—a horizon line defined not by fences or neighbours, but by the silvery foliage of native trees.
To the North, the main living areas open directly to the garden and pool terrace. Upstairs, the lounge offers expansive views across the tree canopy, giving the impression that the upper level floats just above it. Generous eaves protect the glazing to the North and West, while timber batten screening shades the East, allowing the early morning sun to gently enter the home. Seasonal rhythms were carefully considered—the deeper sun of autumn and winter is welcomed, while the intensity of summer is kept at bay.
Internally, the material palette is pared back but warm. Hoop pine plywood linings bring a soft, enveloping tone throughout, with cabinetry in matching ply and Blackbutt panel accents offering a robust contrast. Benchtops in natural ‘New Grey Tundra’ stone add depth and tactility. Minimalist lighting is carefully integrated between exposed timber bays, maintaining visual clarity while highlighting the structure’s quiet rhythm.
The upper and lower floors are connected not just by stair but by shared visual language—timber, light, and framed views. The atmosphere is relaxed and grounded, intended not for display, but for daily life in all its nuance. Outdoor spaces unfold gently from the architecture, with garden edges left informal to further embed the home into its context.
Photovoltaic panels, ample insulation, and double glazing ensure efficient performance year-round. Orientation and shading work in tandem with thermal mass to stabilise temperatures, while the modest footprint and minimal site disturbance align with a broader commitment to sustainability.
The Green Velvet House was designed not to impose, but to settle quietly into its place—lifting above the tree canopy in parts, while always remaining connected to the land beneath it. A home of subtle gestures and enduring materials, it offers a soft interface between family life and the coastal bush landscape it inhabits.
