Home built in Great Ocean Road ‘flame zone’ in line for award
A Great Ocean Road home once deemed unbuildable due to its location in a designated bushfire ‘flame zone’ is among the coastal homes in line for architecture awards.
A Great Ocean Road house in a designated bushfire “flame zone” on the edge of a national park that was initially deemed unbuildable is among the striking coastal dwellings nominated Victoria’s 2025 Architecture Awards.
Dubbed Otway Beach House, the Yuulong residence designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects turned the challenge of bushfire regulations into an architectural opportunity to create a year-round coastal retreat.
Anchored in a clearing between ocean and forest, the monolithic concrete construction presents as a simple rectangular plan placing sleeping areas inland and living spaces facing the ocean.
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Deep beams and insulated concrete wall panels form a robust, fire-safe envelope for the residence built in 2024.
The home was initially deemed unbuildable, but the bushfire-resilient materials of concrete and fire-rated glazing ultimately cleared the way for planners to give approval and G.L. Building & Construction to create the residence.
Blackbutt-lined interior walls and joinery creates a domestic warmth inside the rather industrial construction.
It’s now among the projects short-listed for the Victorian Architecture Awards, Residential Architecture – Houses (New) category.
There are three more houses in towns along the Great Ocean Road to win nominations for the 2025 Victorian Architecture Awards, to be presented in June.
At Anglesea, Dusty Miller House reimagines the classic beach house from a lightweight summer retreat into a flexible, long-term home adapting to changing family needs and life stages.
Not All Architecture’s design stretches the size and shape of the home, with a curve responding to the light, with timber and glass elements reflecting the treed coastal location.
It’s short-listed in two categories - the EmAGN Project Award and Residential Architecture - houses (new).
Architect MGAO’s design honoured the mid century roots of this rebuilt three-bedroom, two bathroom house at Anglesea.
The original L-shaped layout was retained, with raised ceilings and open living spaces now connecting seamlessly to the garden.
Existing column spacings guided the new plan, ensuring continuity with the past.
Materials such as bagged brick, blackbutt timber and finely detailed windows bring warmth to the design where native trees frame the living spaces in the home short-listed for the residential architecture, houses (alterations and additions) category.
The Aireys Inlet beach house “she sells sea shells” is designed for one thing above all, to help you unwind.
Multiplicity’s striking design is a celebration of its location through a blend of contrasting materials and shapes.
The house is short-listed for the residential architecture - houses (new) category.
Chair of Juries for the Victorian Architecture Awards, Hamish Lyon said the awards program continues to illustrate the contribution architects make.
“Against the backdrop of climate change, economic uncertainties, and the need for greater access to housing, it is encouraging to see the significant role that many of this year’s entrants are making to address these contemporary challenges,” Mr Lyon said.
Originally published as Home built in Great Ocean Road ‘flame zone’ in line for award