This Sorrento, Victoria site was previously occupied by a modest weatherboard dwelling that had fallen into disrepair.

Cognisant of this history and the existing character of the neighbourhood, the new owners called on Victoria Merrett Architects to design its successor with sensitivity.

The brief centred on creating a relaxed, enduring family home for an active household, including spaces for entertaining and long days spent between the beach and pool.

At the same time, the clients were clear in their desire to avoid overt coastal references or unnecessary excess, says Victoria Merrett, director of Victoria Merrett Architects. ‘The home was to feel calm, grounded, and timeless, with a strong connection to landscape balanced by a considered level of privacy from the street,’ she explains.

Drawing on ‘typical suburban architecture’ — forms and materials that feel familiar, but are carefully recalibrated through proportion, detailing, and placement — Victoria Merrett Architects designed a single-storey home informed by restraint.

The floor plan is organised as a controlled sequence, where the facade gives way to more expansive internal and rear garden spaces within.

Immediately to the right on entry lies the main bedroom, extending to an enclosed and intimate front courtyard distinct from the open rear garden experience.

The primary living areas sit at the home’s centre, unified beneath a dramatic raking ceiling introducing volume and drawing natural light deep into the plan.

A secondary corridor, offset from the main entry axis and connecting to the remaining bedrooms, is treated as a spatial element rather than simple circulation, ‘Glazed along one side, it feels like a narrow sunroom overlooking the garden, softening movement through the house,’ says Victoria.

Exterior materials again speak to the context of the home, resulting in an intentionally light and restrained palette of Colorbond roofing, rendered recycled brickwork, and timber shiplap cladding.

A lowered building line, achieved by setting the house partially into the ground, allows for generous internal volumes, while maintaining a modest street presence.

A muted, natural colour interior palette reinforces the architects’ modest approach internally. Rather than referencing a singular style, small adjustments such as recessed openings, concealed gutters, and subtle shifts in level work in harmony to build inherent character. ‘There is also a focus on creating atmosphere through material presence and light, allowing texture and volume to define the experience of the interior,’ says Victoria.

The project was completed in a relatively quick 16 months, including six months of design.

In an affluent location where new houses often compete for attention, Sorrento House prioritises restraint, proportion, and longevity to achieve generosity without excess.

‘The project is ultimately defined by adjustment rather than assertion,’ says Victoria. ‘Its qualities emerge through careful placement, proportion and material consistency, allowing it to sit comfortably within its existing context while supporting the evolving needs of family life.’