Matipo House

Located in a quiet, tree-lined suburban street, this project fulfils a client's desire to move ‘home’ to Eastbourne, creating a place for a restful retirement in the picturesque seaside suburb.

The brief called for a modest home that was contemporary in design, but with a strong mid-century flavour. and that would respond to the surrounding natural elements.  

The project involved the development of a bespoke new dwelling on a vacant double site. Hard landscaping was also provided as a framework for later development by the owner. The design solution is a contextual response to the site and environment.  

The material palette of the house was deliberately limited to maintain design clarity. The strong textural character of highly crafted off-the-form concrete and the warmth of the timber linings gave a richness inside and out.  Internally, the volume of the clerestory Entry Gallery provides natural light and ventilation to central circulation spaces. Hidden doors within timber board wall linings conceal a guest toilet and storage. A concrete ‘spine’ wall running through the house provides a formal boundary between private and entertainment spaces. Within the living area, a formed concrete fireplace provides separation from a more confined and intimate den space.  

Living spaces are open plan with generous glazing providing a seamless physical and visual connection to the western terrace and sunken garden. An external floating wing-wall clad in timber weatherboards offers screening from southerly winds, with internal linings bleeding from the interior to form a sense of closure to both internal living and external areas.  The house incorporates a warm roof construction and double-glazed windows to create a comfortable internal thermal environment and reduce heating energy demands.  While originally intended as a home to be occupied intermittently, the owners have however elected to live here permanently.