Perched on the cliffs at Jan Juc in Victoria, this home has a strong connection to its local environment, and a sense of being in and surrounded by nature. Based on the design of the original weatherboard home, Doherty Lynch collaborated with Zen Architects to create a home with a relaxed beach house feel.

Big windows for views and natural light, a garden that flows around the sides of the house and into the backyard, and a feeling of retreat and casual seaside living were paramount. The house needed to expand or contract, with spaces for togetherness, separation or friends and family. Doherty Lynch worked to ensure the materials chosen and joinery designed reflected the owners desire for a relaxed beach house feel with a natural bent. A restrained material palette and a series of simple but finely detailed joinery units define the spaces, and assist in creating a warm, casual feeling throughout the home. A see-through stairwell was designed as an axis that links interior zones and connects them with the backyard. Organic and recycled finishes, and other sustainability features (water saving, passive heating and cooling, renewable energy), were important.