Coastal Pavilion House Design: Kross House by FIGR Architecture & Design

A Contemporary Coastal Retreat Rooted in Landscape

Kross House by FIGR Architecture & Design presents a striking interpretation of coastal pavilion house design, perched gracefully within the sloping contours of Australia’s Mount Martha. Completed in 2024 and spanning 380 square meters, this single-storey residence reimagines pavilion-style living with a nuanced architectural approach that embraces both flexibility and a strong connection to its natural setting.

Architectural Composition and Spatial Narrative

Designed as a series of discrete pavilions, the house is anchored by natural rock formations and elevated by a bold V-shaped steel column. This structural gesture not only provides a sense of lightness but allows the architecture to hover above the terrain. At the heart of the composition lies a multi-directional cross axis, inspired by the iconic Mount Martha boardwalk. This spatial cross organizes circulation along the north-south and east-west directions, creating a fluid journey that weaves through interior and exterior environments.

Indoor-Outdoor Synergy

Central to the coastal pavilion house design is the interplay between indoor comfort and outdoor immersion. A defining feature of the home is the 'in-between' zone created by the intersecting cross—an open breezeway and deck that functions as both a transitional space and an extension of the living areas. Operable sliding doors open the interior to a triangular northern deck, encouraging seamless movement between the home and its natural surroundings.

Materiality and Craftsmanship

Timber plays a central role in defining the material language of the house. Used extensively for both external cladding and internal finishes, the timber palette reinforces the house’s dialogue with the landscape. This continuity is further enhanced by the elimination of plasterboard and the adoption of low-VOC finishes, ensuring a tactile, natural environment throughout. Beneath the elevated main floor, the undercroft has been transformed into a secret garden—an intimate space that reclaims often-neglected architectural voids for spontaneous interaction with nature.

Views, Light, and Water

Elevating the main living spaces to the highest point of the site not only maximizes sweeping views of the Mount Martha foreshore but also creates space for an 18-metre lap pool running along the north-south axis. This clever integration of architecture and landscape reflects the home’s commitment to wellness and experiential design. Daylight floods the interiors, enhanced by timber-framed double-glazed windows and thoughtfully positioned apertures.

Sustainability at Every Scale

Sustainability is embedded in both the structure and ethos of the Kross House. Environmentally responsible choices are evident in the use of local and renewable materials, double glazing, solar energy systems with battery storage, and a 20,000-litre rainwater tank. The collaboration with MUD Office on the native landscape garden introduces a rich ecological layer, with local coastal plant species supporting biodiversity and reinforcing the home’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Encouraging an Active Coastal Lifestyle

This coastal pavilion house design goes beyond shelter to foster movement, wellness, and engagement with the landscape. A series of walkways and garden paths invite exploration, reflecting a lifestyle attuned to the rhythms of its coastal context. The open plan and adaptive spaces ensure the residence can expand or contract as needed, providing a model for modern coastal living that is both flexible and deeply connected to place.

A Vision of Modern Coastal Living

Kross House exemplifies the future of sustainable coastal architecture—where modern design, material integrity, and environmental responsiveness converge. FIGR Architecture & Design’s vision brings together nostalgia, innovation, and spatial poetry, offering a refined yet grounded model of coastal pavilion house design that is as much about lifestyle as it is about architecture.

All the photographs are works of Tom Blachford