Set along the windswept ridgeline of Victoria’s Surf Coast, Fairhaven Beach House by Wardle navigates the elemental demands of coastal living with precision and poetry. Designed for a family of avid surfers, the home’s gesture to its site is both bold and sensitive – embracing expansive ocean views while treading lightly on the surrounding landscape.
Completed in 2012, the project holds a special place in the heart of the practice. “It’s a very well-loved house for that client,” says Associate Principal Diego Bekinschtein. “We’ve had a number of subsequent commissions from them, which shows how much they valued the build, the experience, and how well the house has performed.”
From the outset, the brief was clear: create a home that celebrated its setting, prioritised family life, and foregrounded the views. “The clients are keen surfers, so being able to observe the ocean and check the conditions was very important,” Diego notes. “A lot of the windows are carefully curated to frame the panorama to the south, while other spaces have more controlled views.”
Yet this was no easy site. Strict overlays and sightline controls demanded architectural gymnastics. “Some of the three-dimensional manoeuvring you see is a result of contorting the house to fit within development restrictions,” he explains. One such move is the floating study, lifted off the ground to retain the existing vegetation below.
Materiality plays a defining role in how the home integrates into its landscape. The exterior is clad in green zinc, selected both for its durability and its ability to camouflage into the coastal flora. “We needed low-maintenance solutions. Whether it was the zinc, aluminium-finished blinds or concrete, the idea was to reduce upkeep in a harsh environment,” Diego says.
In contrast to the subdued, almost recessive exterior, the interior delivers a warm, immersive experience. “Every surface inside – walls, floors, ceilings and joinery – is clad in Australian blackbutt,” he says. “It’s robust and durable, perfect for family life, but it also provides a singular material expression that focuses your attention on the view.”
That view is treated with reverence throughout. On arrival, visitors are intentionally denied immediate access to the vista. Instead, they pass through a compressed entry before descending into a soaring living area where the sea unfurls before them. Outdoor spaces are equally choreographed. “We were careful to create a northern terrace with good sun orientation. Balustrades and furniture are always to the side, so nothing obstructs your outlook,” Diego notes.
Central to the home’s liveability – and environmental performance – is its approach to solar control. Relying largely on passive design principles, the house features minimal mechanical cooling. “There’s only air conditioning in the main bedroom,” Diego says. “Everywhere else relies on natural ventilation, so shading is critical to prevent overheating.”
For this, Wardle turned to Shade Factor and its Warema External Venetian Blinds, including both standard and asymmetric versions to accommodate the home’s unconventional window geometries. “We like that they maintain a clear view while giving us control – adjustable blades let in or block out light and heat as needed,” he says. “And when they’re not required, they retract completely, giving you fully unimpeded views.”
The system’s performance in high-wind zones and its integration with wind sensors is especially important in a coastal setting like Fairhaven. “It’s a premium German product, but one we can be confident in – it’s still performing perfectly more than a decade later,” Diego says.
For Wardle, the collaboration with Shade Factor is long-standing and built on trust. “Peter Skinner, Shade Factor’s director, has always been a great educator in how external shading should work,” Diego notes. “His background as an architect means he understands these systems as part of the broader architectural language.”
Ultimately, the success of Fairhaven lies in its layered response to context: practical, poetic and enduring.
Wardle
Shade Factor
