Architect Rob Kennon designs minimalist beach hut in Australia's Flinders

Melbourne-based Rob Kennon Architects is the brains behind this minimalist Australian home in Flinders, a wood-and-glass-wrapped structure sat on a triangular footprint, whose design hovers between humble beach hut and chic glazed pavilion

By Stephen Crafti

last updated 10 October 2022

in News

Glass open villa — Black-stained timber planks wrap around the house’s clean volume allowing for glass openings and making for a contemporary, sophisticated interpretation of the typical Australian beach shack.

(Image credit: Derek Swalwell)

Located on top of an escarpment at Flinders, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, sits this minimal beach house designed by architect Rob Kennon. Surrounded by a native garden, the glazed pavilion enjoys views over Western Port Bay, with glimpses of Phillip Island in the distance. Subdivided from a neighbouring home, the triangular-shaped design appears to ‘float’ about the landscape.

Designed for a couple with young children, as well as for their extended family, the glazed pavilion appears as single storey upon arrival. However, Kennon ‘buried three-quarters of the lower ground floor to firmly anchor the house to the site’.

Flinders House by Rob Kennon inside/outside

On the lower level is the children’s rumpus room, two bedrooms fitted with bunk beds (sleeping up to six children) and a shared bathroom, divided into a series of glass cubicles. ‘This way a number of children can use the bathroom at the same time,' says Kennon. And although the children’s level is ‘buried’, elongated slot windows along the perimeter allow for subdued natural light. ‘The sun can be fairly intense over the summer months so having this subterranean space also provides some relief,' says Kennon.

The front terrace doubling as an informal outdoor room has the typical feel of an Australian beach shack, but considerably more sophisticated. Framed by operable black-stained timber-battened doors, this irregular-shaped space is fully protected from the elements with a timber-battened roof, complete with a layer of translucent polycarbonate. ‘These doors can be fully retracted or closed. You still get the breeze either way,' says Kennon.

The stone tiled floor on the terrace extends to the entire first floor that includes the main bedroom together with the open plan kitchen and living areas. Timber features extensively, with American oak used for the kitchen and living room joinery for example. ‘I wanted to keep the material palette as simple and as limited as possible, being conscious of the setting,' says Kennon.

Open plan outside terrace with black roof

Outside of villa showing glass walls and inside of bedroom

Open entrance of villa with stainless steel planks either side

View of trees out of entrance from inside

Oak slated kitchen with wooden bench table

Large oak slated kitchen with wooden bench table

Large living room with glass windows and brown leather sofas

Snug room with oak slated walls and 2 grey comfort chairs

Oak slated walls with bamboo ladder and wicker hat

Bedroom with grey double bed, oak slated walls and grey curtains

Living space with wooden bench table and brown sofa

Grey marble stair case with oak slated walls

Bedroom with bunk beds and oak slated walls

INFORMATION

robkennon.com

Stephen Crafti started writing on Architecture & Design in the early 1990s after purchasing a modernist 1950s house designed by Neil Montgomery. Fast forward several decades, Crafti is still as passionate and excited about seeing and writing on contemporary architecture and design, having published 50 books to date as well as writing for leading newspapers and magazines.