The Cove is an architect’s own family home designed around the idea of enoughness. Located in Torquay and designed by Wolveridge Architects, the project asks whether a compact home on an irregular battle-axe block can provide the comfort, calm and flexibility of a much larger house without unnecessary excess.
Rather than designing for every possible future scenario, the home focuses on what the family needs now. At 180 square metres, it contains four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a laundry and home office, with spaces overlapping where possible to avoid unnecessary size. The constraints of site, budget and family life become a way to clarify the plan rather than compromise it.
Inside, a restrained palette of walnut joinery, concrete, stone paint and glass creates continuity between spaces. Outside, Smartdeck timber cladding and vertical battens give the home rhythm and shadow, allowing it to settle into the back streets of Torquay while providing a calm, durable setting for family life.
00:00 – A Home Designed Around Enoughness
00:29 – Finding Affordable Land Near the Beach
01:25 – A Brief for Calm Family Life
02:33 – How the Site Shaped the Plan
03:58 – Making 180sqm Feel Like Enough
06:10 – Timber Cladding by Smartdeck
07:55 – Passive Design and Thermal Comfort
09:00 – High Quality Architecture for Less
10:49 – Why Compact Homes Can Be Enough
Website article – https://simpledwelling.net/features/the-cove-wolveridge-architects
In partnership with Smartdeck – https://www.smartdeck.com.au/
Related: Honey House by Wolveridge Architects – https://youtu.be/79ddQjSlfpI
For more from Simple Dwelling
Website – https://simpledwelling.net/
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Architecture by Wolveridge Architects – https://wolveridge.com.au
Built by Doherty Building Group – https://www.dohertybg.com.au
Engineering by Paramount Structural Engineers – https://paramountstructures.com.au
Timber cladding by Smartdeck – https://www.smartdeck.com.au
Filmed and edited by Anthony Richardson – https://www.instagram.com/anthonyrichardson_
Produced by Simple Dwelling
Location: Torquay, Victoria, Australia
#AustralianHome #ArchitectsOwnHome #Architecture
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