the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation
Victoria
Nestled within a naturalistic native bush garden adjacent to the Yarra River bushland, Log House is a brutalist concrete family home featuring an experimental, textured concrete finish embedded with bark and deep log imprints.
A strong connection to nature underpins the design, with the wild native garden bleeding into the glazed living pavilion and the entry stair wrapping around a mature Queensland bottle tree that connects the upper level of the home with the garden from every viewpoint.
The pure geometry and simple architectural forms allow the landscape to be the focus, while a restrained palette of textured natural materials, including split quartzite, flamed granite and brushed tallowwood, imbues the home with an intangible sense of calm and serenity.
Beauty in nature is timeless.
Living here feels less like occupying a house and more like inhabiting a nature pavilion. When I get home from work, city life dissolves replaced by the slow presence of nature, filtered light, timber and stone. It feels more like living in a tranquil nature retreat than an urban dwelling, open yet sheltered, tranquil but alive. The blurred boundaries between inside and out change how I move, breathe and think. Days feel lighter here. I feel healthier without effort, more aware of weather, seasons and the passing of time. Our house allows for a slower, more grounded way of living.
Elida De Felice, Design Architect
Milena Starikov, interior documentation
Philip Chun, Building Surveyor
Clive Steel Partners Pty Ltd, Structural Engineer
Eco Results, ESD Consultant
Berkowitz & Associates Quantity Surveyors, Cost Consultant
Griepink & Ward, Services Consultant
Sam Cox Landscape, Landscape Consultant
Fytogreen, Landscape Consultant
Four Seasons Spas and Pools, Pool Builder
Clive Steel Partners Pty Ltd, Civil Consultant