Portsea Beach House w/AM Architecture

Set within a sweeping coastal property, the landscape for Portsea Beach House is designed as a seamless retreat, balancing expansive landscape views with a sense of enclosure and seclusion. The brief to us was simple and in the form of an image – of The Hills Golf Club in Arrowtown.

Upon arrival, a soft path leads through clusters of Moonah, ascending gently to a sunlit lawn that frames broad vistas while creating a sheltered atmosphere within. This elevated lawn, central to the property, serves as both a scenic focal point and a welcoming area for gathering and unwinding.

Below, a series of terraced spaces transition gradually from leisure to recreation, moving from an expansive swimming pool to a tennis court. Each area is connected by broad granite steppers, locally sourced to ground the design in the region’s natural materials.

Native grasses and plantings flow around these spaces, softening edges and creating a sense of continuity between the built and natural elements, while a coastal-inspired palette of muted greens and greys enhances the property’s understated elegance.

This landscape serves as a true escape, blending organic textures and open space to cultivate a feeling of calm and immersion. The design captures both the architectural strength of the house and the unrefined beauty of the surrounding coastline—a family haven where the rhythm of light and land invites relaxation and rejuvenation.