Wood Marsh creates rammed-earth Peninsula House on Australian coast

by : Jon Astbury

Architecture studio Wood Marsh has used curving walls of charred timber and rammed earth to create this home south of Melbourne, which is designed to echo Australia’s “windswept” coastline.

Called Peninsula House, the dwelling is located near the town of Flinders, overlooking the Bass Strait and surrounded by farmland.

Sculptural Peninsula House in Melbourne with rammed earth walls — Peninsula House has a curved form crafted from rammed earth

This gives rise to a curving form with long “arms” that wrap a driveway and swimming pool terrace.

Sculptural Peninsula House by Wood Marsh — Its design is informed by the shape of Australia’s coastline

“The exterior texture reflects that windswept, weather-beaten form, whilst also referring to an organic mammal, reminiscent of whale carcasses which often wash up on the beach,” he continued.

Rammed earth wall of a house in Melbourne by Wood Marsh — The rammed-earth walls are left exposed throughout the home

Here, green planting creates a strong contrast to both the surrounding landscape and the monochrome interiors, where the home’s rammed-earth structure is left exposed in some areas.

Directly to the south of the central courtyard is a double-height living, kitchen and dining space overlooking the eastern terrace and landscape through large windows and from a first-floor balcony.

“At the core of the interior is the internal garden. This was designed to be in strong contrast to the powerful, windswept exterior landscape,” said Marsh. “It serves to accentuate and frame the view as if it were a living artwork.”

Black home interior with an atrium by Wood Marsh — The home features a central courtyard

Throughout, dark stone floors, black wooden panelling and black tilework in the bathrooms reflect the charred timber of the exterior, contrasted by white walls and ceilings that bring a feeling of openness to the living area.