RED CREST HOUSE

A home connected to the land and brimming with personality

Red Crest House is a mid-century modern-inspired masterpiece, located in the Dandenong Ranges, an hour's drive east of Melbourne. In this semi-rural context, the property overlooks a pastoral valley, and towering mature oak and elm trees provide a natural backdrop to family life.

With a desire to create both a rural sanctuary and a space to share with friends and family, the clients engaged Dion Keech Architects and custom home builders Hedger Constructions to bring their vision to life.

The home has a unique spatial organisation, sited upon the crest of a hill. It consists of two distinct wings which are subtly angled around a courtyard, forming the central focus of the dwelling and creating a dramatic entry. "The home was envisaged with an opaque wall to the rear so that the view would only be revealed when you cross the entry threshold," explains Dion Keech, director of Dion Keech Architects. "The wings step down to follow the contours of the land and the large, cantilevered skillion roof overhangs at each end, emphasising the mid-century silhouette."

Central to the project brief was honouring the homeowner's deep connection to the land. "The clients required a timeless design, a property that looks as if it has always been there and has grown from the red earth on which it stands," says Dion. "To achieve this, we utilised an earthy palette of natural materials, including native Australian timber, stone, copper and polished concrete."