This project is located on a generous site in Merricks Beach on the Mornington Peninsula. The new build has views of the sea and adjoining coastal bushland.

The block had significant challenges, including no mains water and large areas of water inundation during winter, due to the site levels on the street. These factors informed the initial design direction. The garden is planted with local indigenous plants, contract grown grom local seed. Little hard landscape was used, except for large raw concrete pads at the base of all the steps. As well as an aesthetic choice, this would minimize a recess being formed in the gravel and collection of water over time.

Blackbutt batten screens were built on both sides of the house matching the detail on the building. A custom steel firepit was designed for the gravel area at the rear and the garden was laid out in generous curves to incorporate the parking of eight cars front and back when needed. Here drought, salt-tolerant, and wetland plants were carefully chosen to thrive within the many and varied microclimates of the site.

Photography by Andy Murray and Marnie Hawson