Florida House by Nest Architects
Designed by Nest Architects, Florida House is a recreation of a Victorian coastal home, blurring the line between modernist design principles and contemporary design.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Tom Ross
Located on the lands of the Bunurong/Boonwurrung people, the creation of Florida House came to fruition when the owners moved from a large property to a smaller beachside block.
The house was designed and documented by Nest Architects and continued through the construction stage by Placement.
High on the priority list for the family of five was to achieve a feeling of lightness and stillness in their new environment, without losing the privacy they’d become accustomed to. The brief also called for views to the garden from every room and most importantly, a home to grow old in, where the owner’s children would return for weekends and holidays for years to come.
Florida House is a home that’s equally practical and beautiful, taking inspiration from iconic mid-century homes. Separated into two accommodation blocks with a central courtyard - the two blocks are unified with a seemingly floating roof. Dramatic vertical planes create outdoor area with subtly different atmospheres, allowing the rooms inside to have their own identities.
The material palette draws on finishes popularised by modernist architects including Harry Seidler and Richard Neutra. The home embodies a mid-century quality, but one that’s suited to the coastal environment and the contemporary family life of the owners.
From an architectural perspective, Florida House plays with mass to frame views and recreate the privacy of the client’s previous home.
The end result is a forever home – a place that the owners can grow old in, with the ability to be adaptable as the owners’ children approach adulthood. A dream turned into a reality.
“The mid-century inspired home is suited to its coastal environment and contemporary family owners.”
The external fascia colour was originally specified to match the brick, however as the project neared completion, the clients had a strong desire for a green fascia (Dulux Deep Reed). Photo: Tom Ross. Editorial styling: Tom Ross, Stephanie Kitingan and Patrick Hegarty
The landscaping was completed by Akas Landscape Architecture. Photo: Tom Ross. Editorial styling: Tom Ross, Stephanie Kitingan and Patrick Hegarty