Otways Outlook

The opportunity to design a home on a coastal bush block is increasingly rare, so we took it — a new home for a couple, taking shape in Aireys Inlet. Set on an allotment of over 4000m², the house sits in a small clearing originally prepared for a previous build that never got out of the ground. The new owners came to us wanting a high-performance home that takes full advantage of the valley views toward the Otways and the surrounding bushland. The driveway weaves through messmates on the way in, revealing a twin pavilion with a north-facing facade. The accented entry separates the master suite from the rest of the home. Eaves are optimised for passive solar control, and with a Bushfire Attack Level rating of BAL-40 — one of the highest ratings a site can carry — every external material has been chosen specifically to withstand ember attack and radiant heat, not just weather. Parking sits at the front of the home, with the driveway continuing behind the building to reach storage and service areas. That zoning keeps every living space facing the valley and the bushland beyond, rather than competing with cars and utility spaces for the view. Currently under construction, Otways Outlook is being built by its owners, to Passive House principles.