Sustainability in Practice
Elliot River House is a considered response to rural and coastal living, nestled into a sweeping landscape with distant views along Victoria’s Surfcoast, over the Otway National Park and wide open skies. This single-level residence is composed as a series of intersecting pavilions, each framing views of the Ocean and landscape while offering privacy. The North Pavilion is Cranked to Maximize solar access, while simultaneously protecting from the harsh prevailing weather. The elevation presents a restrained, grounded façade with vertical cladding and slimline glazing that blend harmoniously with the native plantings. A minimalist approach to detailing allows material texture and light play to bring depth to the exterior. Native and drought-tolerant planting forms a buffer between built and natural, blending the home gently into its environment. A large pond anchors the site, while curated garden edges and gravel paths create seamless indoor–outdoor transitions, reinforcing the home’s connection to its context.