Inside The Ultimate Surf Lovers Dream House (House Tour)

Drawn to the coastline of Montfort Beach, Chris McKimm, Founding Director of InForm and home owner, wanted to infuse this surf lovers dream house with an abundance of natural light, sweeping views and open spaces. Positioned on top of a sand dune 600 metres from the ocean, Montfort House is one of seven homes built on the site. Due to a deep knowledge of the terrain and the overall development, Chris delivered a difficult brief to the architects, where he requested a dream home that blends into its environment. Within the brief, there was a necessary request of harnessing the views to the south and allowing the surf lovers dream house to embrace the winter sun that came from that direction. With a need for the home to be designed with Chris and his family in mind, the architects had to keep in mind that they would predominantly live on site, while their children and grandchildren would regularly visit. To cater to this need, Montfort House has been deliberately zoned to cater to the different aspects of living in a surf lovers dream house. As one begins the house tour, the design starts with stairs that lead up to the front door, which has been complemented with a deliberately large window to the side that offers a glimpse to the southern views. Upon entering, another staircase on the opposite side of the foyer leads down to the basement, where a wine cellar has been built. Leading on from the bridge of the entrance, the interior design flows freely, with the main bedroom suite located on the left side, while the right holds the main living areas. Offering views in either direction, the main living area is filled with natural light and warm material choices. Beyond this, a second living area has been positioned with supplementary bedrooms for family and guests. Dealing with the fact that the home’s location faces a strong wind presence, decks have been built on both the south and north sides of the surf lovers dream house, allowing the owners to enjoy the views no matter the weather. With an understanding of the property, Jack Merlo has designed the surrounding gardens as well as the pool. By setting the pool down lower, the landscaper gave the owners an opportunity to overlook the pool and enjoy uninterrupted views whilst also keeping it private and hidden from view of the neighbouring property. Addressing the proximity of the neighbour to the west, the owners came to an agreement to lower the form so both could enjoy the views. Though costly, lowering the surf lovers dream house played to the advantage of both owners. For Chris, lowering the home improved the site’s environment by giving them a bigger land coverage as well as protection from the rugged surrounds. Establishing a confident material palette, the design reflects elements of the surrounding vegetation of Montfort House. The bricks of the external walls feature a grainy appearance that reflects the native plants and the timber ceilings reflect the natural timbers of the national park. Kept intentionally neutral, the surf lovers dream house does not become the dominate feature, but instead reflects the surrounds on which it was built. 00:00 - Introduction to The Ultimate Surf Lovers Dream House 00:39 - The Beachside Location 00:57 - The History of InForm 01:26 - The Unknown Surf Break of Montfort Beach 02:03 - A Desire for a Home that Blended with the Environment 02:24 - Hitting the Brief 03:02 - The Design of the House and a Walkthrough 03:58 - Create Spaces Safe from the Wind 04:13 - Designing the Garden for Privacy 04:40 - Overcoming the Neighbourhood Challenges 05:22 - A Reflective Material Palette 06:02 - The Most Enjoyable Space in the Home For more from The Local Project: Instagram –   / thelocalproject   Website – https://thelocalproject.com.au/ Print Publication – https://thelocalproject.com.au/public... Hardcover Book – https://thelocalproject.com.au/book/ The Local Project Marketplace – https://thelocalproject.com.au/market... To subscribe to The Local Project's Tri-Annual Print Publication see here – https://thelocalproject.com.au/subscr... Build and Design by InForm. Photography by Timothy Kaye. Styling by Bek Sheppard. Filmed and Edited by O&Co. Production by The Local Project. The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of First Nations peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands. #DreamHouse #Architecture #Coastal