Set in Barwon Heads, Barwon Dunes House is a contemporary coastal residence designed by Eliza Blair Architecture for relaxed, long-term family living. The home responds to its rugged coastal setting through a balance of durability, warmth and connection to landscape, with spaces carefully arranged to capture natural light, privacy and sheltered outdoor living.
The design is shaped by three guiding ideas: light, material warmth and zoning for family life. Generous glazing and considered openings draw sunlight deep into the interior, allowing spaces to shift in mood throughout the day while maintaining a strong relationship to garden and sky. Living areas open easily to a protected terrace and with an outdoor fireplace, creating a home that expands naturally beyond its walls.
Light is used to structure the experience of the home, with courtyards and openings drawing it deep into the plan and allowing it to shift throughout the day. Indoor and outdoor spaces are conceived as a series of connected rooms, enabling daily life to move easily between inside and out while remaining protected from coastal conditions.
A restrained palette of tactile materials gives the project its calm and grounded character. Blackbutt timber cladding and screening, rammed earth walls, limestone paving, travertine stone and natural timber linings combine with robust metal finishes selected to weather gracefully in the coastal environment. Internally, custom joinery and layered furnishings add softness and practicality without excess.
According to the architects, the coastal setting of Barwon Heads brought a need to balance durability, comfort and connection to place. Exposure to salt air, strong winds and shifting light informed the material selection, with robust low-maintenance finishes chosen to weather gracefully over time. The design also needed to provide shelter and privacy while still feeling open and relaxed.
Materials were chosen for warmth, texture and longevity. Timber adds softness, while stone and natural finishes create a grounded, timeless feel. Timber screening on the upper levels allows sunlight and sea breezes to be enjoyed while protecting from harsher conditions. The home responds to its environment through a natural palette and soft, grounded forms that echo the surrounding dune landscape.
Barwon Dune House was designed to feel generous, practical and comfortable not just now, but well into the future. The planning prioritizes easy daily living, with open, connected spaces balanced by areas that can be closed off when needed. Spaces are designed to be used in different ways over time – allowing the home to adapt as family life changes, while maintaining a sense of calm and clarity.
