Splash of colour at Somerton Park
A home on the esplanade with a mid-century design was a long-held dream for Gary and Julie. The result, in Somerton, is even better than they imagined.
Gary and Julie’s home in Somerton Park is an anomaly.
The mid-century-inspired design is the only single-storey new build along the coastal stretch, featuring low horizontal lines, expansive glass windows and a playful pop of yellow on the soffit.
It’s a dream come true for the retired pair. They’d spent 20 years searching for the perfect patch, and when the 950-square-metre corner block became available at the start of the pandemic, it felt almost too good to be true.
“Because we looked for so long, when this came up, we knew exactly what it was,” Julie says. “It ticked every box.”
Positioned on the corner of a cul-de-sac and no-parking-zoned frontage, the prime real estate offered the pair a sense of seclusion. It also allowed them to take full advantage of western and northern aspects, while shielding the south “because that’s where all the weather comes from”.
They presented Max Pritchard of Max Pritchard Gunner Architects with a concept image of their dream home. “He took a look at it, walked the block in silence … then sat down with a great deal of confidence and said, ‘This is what we can do’,” Gary says.
Max and his co-architect daughter, Tess Pritchard, brought the vision to life with personalised detail, along with builder Nik Ikonomakis of IKON Construction.
From the front, the home almost appears as if it’s floating above the coastal dune vegetation that waves in the sea breeze.
Its simplicity is deceiving.
“The cantilevered terrace – that slim ‘wafer’ at the base of the building – was designed to make the house feel as though it lightly touches the ground,” Gary says. “As the garden matures and the plants rise toward the terrace, the house will seem to float.”
The concept is even more striking from inside. Upon opening the four-metre-tall door – its colour yellow echoing the eaves lining – an expanse of space exudes calm.
This entrance, together with a chic timber ramp that leads up to the open living area, hugs an enclosed courtyard – a peaceful, tropical-look sanctuary, protected from coastal elements.
“We lived in Darwin for nearly 10 years, and always felt a deep connection to nature,” Gary says. “When it came to the courtyard, we wanted a garden that expressed that tropical feel.”
Anchored by a circular timber deck, the space utilises cobblestones from Belgium streets, giant circular planters made from off-cuts of large water pipes and a variety of tropical plants – from native hibiscus to birds of paradise, and a frangipani tree that was craned in over the house.
A Buschbeck barbecue and pizza oven makes for casual outdoor eating and heating. Then, there’s the walls painted pink and orange – a bold, visual statement that sings in shades of sunset. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring that outside area, in – from morning through night.
“That’s one of the reasons why there’s no artwork adjacent the ramp,” says Gary, gesturing towards an opposing interior wall left blank like a canvas. “At night time, we get these amazing shadows on that wall from the frangipani, and when it’s in full bloom, it looks absolutely stunning.
“Max was right when he said we’d grow to love that space as much, if not more, than the ocean view.”
The ramp – another seemingly simple, yet intricate piece of architecture – leads the eye to striking panoramic views of the ocean. “When it gets really rough out there, if you walk up the ramp, it almost feels like you’re on a boat adrift,” Gary says. “There’s nobody walking along; there’s no boats at sea – we’re able to turn our attention to the courtyard space.”
The ramp is also a hit with the grandchildren, who love to visit.
“They love running their toy cars down it,” Gary smiles.
Towards the top of the ramp is a separate lounge room “where we hide away in winter”, Julie says. Mid-century furniture – inherited and refurbished – and burnt orange Tretford carpet add subtle warmth to the space.
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The showpiece, though, is the open living area, boasting undisturbed views of the temperamental sea. Here, the home’s minimalist design is defined by burnished concrete floors, white Arne Jacobsen dining table and Series 7 chairs and an understated television viewing area, made comfortable thanks to Prime Time lounge chairs by fellow Danish designer, Tom Stepp.
An angular island bench, timber cabinetry and mirror splashback define the kitchen, a room that wraps around to a hidden pantry.
The thought behind the splashback, Max says, isn’t to see oneself but to reflect the view: “You’re seeing the sea, and you’re getting it for free.”
Underfloor heating and cooling, meanwhile, has been paramount – and it’s all powered by the 56 solar panels that are hidden from sight thanks to the intricate design of the “flat” roof.
“We spend 90 per cent of our time in this space, and we’ve probably put the air-conditioning on either heating or cooling three or four times since we’ve been here, which is 14 months now,” Gary says. “It’s very economical.”
Automatic venetian blinds allow the pair to control the amount of light that enters the home – as well as how much can be seen by curious passers-by. “This house is a bit of an anomaly on the Esplanade, and because of that, people tend to spend time looking at it,” Gary says.
Though, they do like to keep blinds up when they’re entertaining family and friends.
“Most evenings, over a glass of wine, we’re rewarded with sunsets that rival those we remember from the tropics – sometimes with the Temptation (catamaran) gliding past or a pod of dolphins cruising the Esplanade,” Gary adds. “There’s an ease to the space that invites people to relax and let go.”
The main bedroom is another lesson in restraint. The highlight is a bed that appears to float – just like the house itself – thanks to the use of mirrors beneath its base. An en suite, boasting resort-like views of the courtyard, includes dual basins and tucked away shower. It also offers access to an outdoor deck and shower – something Julie prizes after her regular beach swims. Eventually, the external Tuckeroos will join to form a natural privacy screen around the en suite.
At the bottom of the ramp is a study, two additional bedrooms, laundry and second bathroom with freestanding bath, where sunlight reflecting off vertical subway tiles creates an aura of pink – a welcome surprise from the design.
Artworks have been thoughtfully chosen and placed. The hero is an oversized commissioned artwork by Geelong artist, James Price, inspired by Gary and Julie’s shared love of ’70s film. Colours reflect those used in the courtyard – as well as that sunshine yellow from the soffit and door.
“That was the decade we grew up in,” Gary says. “A lot of those movies were based in Palm Springs, and there were always pink flamingos on people’s manicured front lawns.”
When asked why they are so enthralled with mid-century design, Gary and Julie reflect on it being an “optimistic time” in history.
“But it’s the low horizontal lines and the expanse of glass that really attracted us to that form of architecture, and it’s timeless,” Gary says.
“With this house, we wanted it to be calm and confident, without shouting.”
