Innovation: A sumptuous shelter

The good of beachside sites are the far-horizon outlooks, which is why coastal property commands name-your-price premiums.

The bad can be blunt-force weather on windy or wintery days. On a corner block in the part of Williamstown that orients to the south and west, and therefore to prevailing wind, the issue in a new build was how to get the views to a pretty beach while also making a home that felt like shelter.

Photo: Derek Swalwell

Architect Steve Domoney​ had a client who, as a commercial builder, wanted to make his own family home one of high-end specifications. Romando Nascarella​ of Devco wanted not only luxurious spaces in a four-bedroom house where the living would be on the upper of the three levels. He had the resourcefulness to get hold of luxurious building materials. Specifically, a veritable mountain of Italian Travertine marble.

On the impressive front and side elevations of a building with a statement skillion roofline, high, wide glazing and weathered dark zinc cladding, the white bits on the balconies, facades and on some sections of the garden wall are Travertine.

Photo: Derek Swalwell

“The colour of the marble,” Domoney says, “was about connection to the beach. It had the colours that picked up all the hues of the coastal theme.”

The white bits – all of the floors inside an exceptionally stylish home with a basement cinema, are also marble.

Photo: Derek Swalwell

“Playing off the stone” and warming up a restrained material scheme that Domoney calls “Balinese-style minimalism” is an equal lavishing of engineered oak which is used in ceilings, wall panelling, doors and joinery.

The concept of shelter is always in forefront consideration and quietly concealed on the north-eastern upper level is a deep, sunny courtyard space overhung by that stupendous roof.

Photo: Derek Swalwell

“The front balcony is fine on good days,” says Domoney. “On the bad days, the inner courtyard remains completely protected”.

domoneyarchitecture.com