28/08/2026
08. MARINERS HOUSE
Mariners House is located in the bayside suburb of Williamstown, close to the marina and overlooking the docks. Within a strict Heritage Overlay, the new house’s street presence required a considered and sensitive response.
Rather than reproducing the past, the design draws on the language and pattern of the traditional cottage.
Timber battens reinterpret the language of the past, shaping it into a contemporary form. Its familiar cottage form is deconstructed into a contemporary skeletal entry frame.
The entry was influenced by the owners’ connection to the Japanese genkan. The layered battened façade creates a calm, private sanctuary within.
The living spaces were divided into distinct functions, punctuated by private courtyards. Reflecting the clients’ desire for simplicity, a minimal approach to materials and design creates clean lines and a sense of intentional calm.
The bedrooms are light-filled retreats, offering private spaces for the couple and their young adult children. The second storey punctuates the plan, creating opportunities to draw light deep into the home.
The bathrooms continue the Japanese influence, pairing glazed ceramic tiles with the repeated rhythm of timber batten joinery.
Every material was chosen with restraint. Nothing decorative. Just thoughtful and enduring.
A spiral stair leads to the roof deck, connecting the inhabitants with the surrounding treetops and bay breezes. The roof deck compensates for the reduced ground-level garden, while creating new opportunities for views across the surrounding landscape.
Overlooking the marina and docks, it becomes a sun-filled retreat for the family to enjoy on long summer days.
PHOTOGRAPHER: Tess Kelly
BUILDER:
