Adam Kane Architects carefully transform an 1800s heritage-listed beachside cottage in Barwon Heads, Victoria.
Nicknamed ‘The Dump’ by local residents of the Bellarine Peninsula, Adam Kane Architects have given this weatherboard cottage a new lease of life through a deep inky palette and barn-style extension, breaking free from the stereotype of traditional Australian coastal homes.
Adam Kane Architects were approached by the owners, a young couple who wanted to embrace the relaxed lifestyle of the small town, to realise the potential of this humble cottage through natural materials, bold volumes and an encompassing atmosphere of tranquillity.
The home features a custom-designed dining table in Silver Travertine by Adam Kane Architects and Bow chairs by Tom Fereday.
The gabled-roof extension is barely visible from the home’s bold double-fronted facade, where period features like the verandah and window frames have been carefully restored. Stepping inside the home, the corridor is lined with black mottled joinery panels that cleverly conceal access to the rumpus laundry and additional storage areas, keeping clutter to a minimum.
Director Adam Kane says they took an unconventional approach when progressing into the spacious rear extension and heart of the home. “I deliberately played on the sense of space using compression and release, to create a unique and unexpected experience as you move through the home,” Adam explains.
American Oak lines the 6.5 metre-high raked ceiling in the living space, complemented by hand-scratched solid plaster walls prototyped by Carlier and Co. Adam Kane says the consistent use of timber played a large part in distinguishing different spaces within the home. “The timber lining helped us blur the threshold between inside and out, as well as delineating zones, making spaces feel more generous and contributing to the relaxed feel of the home,” Adam says.
A monolithic kitchen-dining bench in Silver Travertine encourages guests to gather for conversation when entertaining, evoking a contemporary Belgian design sensibility.
The living space features custom-designed coffee tables by Adam Kane Architects and the Malawi Rug by Armadillo.
A combination of notable pieces including the Kangaroo Chairs (a tribute to Pierre Jeanneret) and Bow Dining Chairs by Tom Fereday pair effortlessly with custom-designed furniture like the Trilateral coffee tables, designed by Adam Kane Architects. The robust interior is softened through soft grey linen sheers and an oatmeal-coloured rug by Armadillo, lending the design a relaxed, coastal atmosphere.
Adam Kane Architects’ Barwon Heads House embodies a refreshing take on beachside living through pared-back design principles and a meticulous balance of light and dark.
The gabled-roof extension is barely visible from the home’s double-fronted facade, where period features like the verandah and window frames have been carefully restored.
