Accordion House

"Showcase something a little different, without drawing too much attention." That was the brief for Accordion House, perched on a hill overlooking Apollo Bay with sweeping ocean views. This small beach house has been cherished by generations, and with deep family ties to the site, the challenge was to preserve its sense of joy, connection and belonging while evolving it for the future.

The new living and dining addition sits to the south, the first thing you see arriving via the driveway. Clad in galvanised steel that takes its cue from the existing agricultural structures on site, the building's form follows the natural slope of the land — the roofline runs downhill with the terrain, settling the house into the hillside and framing views across Apollo Bay to the east.

Inside, Blackbutt timber floorboards and walnut joinery give the home a rich, grounding base, while open shelving and on-display storage — hanging copper pots included — celebrate the owners' own style. Bold colour runs through the house with intention: red window reveals outside are mirrored in a red powder room, a green entry door opens into the central living space, and bedrooms and laundry in calming blues and greens bring the palette back down.

The name is more than decorative. Accordion House genuinely expands and contracts — designed to comfortably house very different numbers of guests as family and friends flow in and out for the holidays, the way the family's own musical roots move between quiet and full volume.

That flexibility comes with real performance underneath. The home is compact and low-impact by design, upgraded for health, comfort and longevity with enhanced insulation, condensation management and ventilation. New double glazing lifts thermal performance, and with a Bushfire Attack Level rating of BAL-29, updated external materials are built for real resilience, not just weather. It's designed to Passive House principles, though not pursuing formal certification.

Currently under construction, Accordion House is being built by Apollo Bay Building Group.