WINGING IT

Upon moving back to Australia after 15 years abroad, this young family sought to embark on chapter two of their lives, settling into a peaceful area in Victoria's southwest and building their dream, H-shaped home.

- Words CARLI PHILIPS Photography LILLIE THOMPSON

The courtyard-centric layout – a nostalgic retelling of the owner's childhood home – was realised by Torquay-based building designers Section Studio.

After construction had commenced, interior designer Sally Knibbs of Sally Caroline was brought on board with the stated goal of adding soul to the home by way of luxurious materiality, sophisticated furniture, art and decorative accessories. Sally credits Built by Wilson as the bow that tied the project together, multitasking in their roles both as builders and managers with an eye to the finer architectural details.

The family had lived in both Geneva and London, and they loved the formality of the latter city’s smaller, more boutique townhouses. They had also resided in the Caribbean for a period and had an affection for the region’s free, expressive style and indoor-outdoor living. Coupled with the reality of living in regional Victoria, Sally reached into the depths of her imagination to incorporate elements of place and memory across all four locations within this new home's design.

“We considered everything,” says Sally, referring to her clients' lifestyle as well as their state of being. “Where they're at in life, » « where they came from, who they are, where they were living. They were all factors in the design.”