Portsea is defined by the tension between settlement and exposure. Beyond its long-established homes and summer rituals, the back beach remains raw: tea tree-covered dunes, salty air, shifting mist, low coastal scrub and the distant sound of surf. From one of the highest points in Portsea, Spyglass looks across both conditions, with uninterrupted views over the township and toward the wild southern coastline.

Designed for a large, multi-generational family, the house brings together the generosity of a country home with the informality of a beach house. A series of substantial stone and rendered volumes step across the ridge, creating sheltered courtyards and protected outdoor rooms within an otherwise exposed setting. The plan supports gathering at scale while allowing parts of the house to retreat into privacy.

Natural stone, lime render and timber give the architecture weight and permanence, while deep openings frame the landscape beyond. The result is a house connected to Portsea’s social life, yet capable of becoming its own private enclave.

Spyglass — Portsea, Australia — Coming soon

Between Portsea’s settlement and its wild edge.

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