Court House

Set on a quiet court in Aireys Inlet, with a walking track leading down to a secluded beach, Court House answers a brief for a modest timber dwelling. Timber became the defining gesture of the design, tying the home to its coastal bush setting. At the heart of the plan sits a central courtyard that serves as both the arrival point and the orienting device, enclosed by core-ten gates that can be opened or closed depending on the conditions.

The home divides into two wings: a more public wing for living and social spaces, and a more private wing holding the bedrooms, bathrooms and study. Both wings open onto the courtyard, and moving between them means passing through that outdoor space, which keeps the immediate landscape present and the relationship to the outdoors relaxed. The dwelling covers 219 square metres across two levels on a 736 square metre site, and was completed in 2017.

Architect: Peter Winkler Architects (project architect Jeremy Anderson). Builder: Michael Parker Building. Landscape: Brett Essing Landscapes. Structural engineer: P.J. Yttrup & Associates. Photography by Jack Lovel.