AO.30 Kennett River House by MGAO: A Coastal Retreat with Captivating Views

Nestled in the small coastal town of Kennett River, along the iconic Great Ocean Road in Victoria, the AO.30 Kennett River House by MGAO embraces its unique hillside plot to offer a holiday home that harmonizes with its stunning natural surroundings. Designed with precision, the house presents a modern response to the region’s beauty and varied vistas, offering its residents a tranquil retreat far removed from conventional domesticity.

A Site of Extraordinary Views

The Kennett River site offers a rare opportunity with three distinct and breathtaking views that shape the architectural concept. The first view overlooks the Kennett River township, descending toward the lush landscape. The second provides sweeping ocean views across Bass Strait, and the third captures the distant stretch of the Great Ocean Road as it heads toward Wye River. These scenic views became the foundation of the design, each room intentionally oriented to frame one of these vistas, ensuring that every aspect of daily life within the house is characterized by its surroundings.

Design Concept: Stacked Rooms for Function and Experience

The project brief called for a small holiday house, yet one that went beyond the conventional expectations of a domestic space. The MGAO team responded with a three-story design, stacking rooms according to their functional purposes: bathing, sleeping, eating, and living. This vertical arrangement not only maximizes space on the narrow plot but also accentuates the changing views as one moves through the house.

Each floor offers a different function but is meticulously aligned to provide a unique interaction with the landscape outside. The result is a dynamic interior experience, where the natural surroundings influence and change the atmosphere throughout the day and seasons. The stacked rooms, with their purposeful design and strategic placement, frame the stunning views from every angle, making the house feel at once connected to and independent from the surrounding environment.

Interior Design and Materiality

The interior spaces of AO.30 Kennett River House are designed to complement the natural surroundings. With minimalist yet thoughtful details, the use of quality materials elevates the aesthetic while remaining grounded in the coastal landscape. Furniture pieces by Artek and Thonet enhance the modern yet simple design ethos. The use of wood, glass, and other natural materials creates an atmosphere that connects the house to its coastal surroundings, ensuring comfort and an unpretentious elegance throughout.

Blending with Nature and Embracing the Landscape

One of the key concepts of the design is to allow the house to blend seamlessly with its surroundings, while providing a strong sense of intimacy with nature. The house offers an evolving experience, where the interior is in constant dialogue with the ever-changing landscape outside. This integration of nature within the design makes AO.30 Kennett River House more than just a retreat – it becomes a celebration of the coastal beauty that defines the area.

All Photographs are works of Dan Preston