Lahinch House

Lahinch House is a residential project by Lachlan Shepherd Architects in the coastal town of Torquay, Victoria. The home was conceived as a place for entertaining, working as both a full-time residence for its two owners and a space that can host visiting family and friends in comfort. Each guest bedroom has its own ensuite and robe area, so guests can settle into their own space before moving through to the main living zones.

The plan responds to its setting by turning away from the single adjacent neighbour and opening to the south and east, where it takes in views across the golf course. Large expanses of glazing draw the rolling greens and sand dunes beyond into the interior, softening the line between inside and out.

At the centre of the living areas sits an integrated plunge pool, heated year-round so it stays usable while also reading as a water feature that can be seen from across the living zones. The lounge, kitchen, dining and sitting areas share one open volume, divided not by walls but visually and spatially by a sunken lounge. Highly detailed and technical in its construction, the house is nonetheless an honest, low-maintenance and warm home.

Architecture: Lachlan Shepherd Architects. Photography: Ben Hosking.