Located at Sorrento, on the coast of Mornington Peninsula, Norfolk Residence reimagines the traditional beach house aesthetic – inverting it into a moody, immersive retreat. Responding to its coastal surroundings, the living spaces and main suite rise above the treetops in a reverse-living layout, opening panoramic views across Sorrento golf course, the Bass Strait and Melbourne’s skyline in the distance. The architecture is defined by board-formed concrete carved into the natural slope of the site. The imprint of the timber grain echoes the local Moonah bark and weathered coastal rock, allowing the upper pavilion to appear like it’s floating among the mature Norfolk pines.

Inside, a custom stair in board-marked concrete twists upward like a pleated ribbon, drawing the eye toward the light, while simultaneously allowing it to flood the lower level. Raw luxury sets the material aesthetic: patinated brass joinery against black and deep green stone, dark stained timbers that echo the grain of the concrete, and travertine flooring. In the ensuite, brass-trimmed mirrors rise to meet a skylight, where daylight diffuses a continuous shifting glow. Every surface is chosen to age and deepen with use, a home that will develop a richness over time.