Moonah trees can live for hundreds of years. Their name alone conveys a sense of mysticism, but it is their ancient ties to the coastal Barwon Heads region of Australia that have made them local legends. As the trees age, their bark becomes increasingly gnarled and twisted, responding to the surrounding environment and conditions. Like the cypress trees of Monterey, the baobab trees of Madagascar and the giant sequoias of California, these are regional icons, part of the landscape.
When architecture firm Auhaus was hired to build a house in Barwon Heads last year, they embraced these local natives: framing views of them, emulating their form and connecting with the landscape of the revered moonah tree. “The house was designed in conjunction with the landscape, and the two parts are inseparable,” says project architect Kate Fitzpatrick. “We wanted the house to be experienced as an extension of the site.”
Photos by Trevor Mein
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Barwon Heads, a coastal town on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia
Size: 2,906 square feet (270 square meters); 1,238 square feet (115 square meters) of decks
Year built: Fall of 2013
The home’s study sits on its top floor, overlooking the moonahs behind the house. Thick, shrubby dune vegetation grows between the house and a nearby golf course. Fitzpatrick framed this view with one large window. “We wanted to create serene yet engaging interior spaces that make you deeply aware of the space you are in and the landscape outside,” She says.
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Barwon Heads, a coastal town on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia
Size: 2,906 square feet (270 square meters); 1,238 square feet (115 square meters) of decks
Year built: Fall of 2013
The home’s study sits on its top floor, overlooking the moonahs behind the house. Thick, shrubby dune vegetation grows between the house and a nearby golf course. Fitzpatrick framed this view with one large window. “We wanted to create serene yet engaging interior spaces that make you deeply aware of the space you are in and the landscape outside,” She says.
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