Wood House By JAK Architecture
Wood House by JAK Architecture reworks an existing coastal home through a series of considered changes, anchored by simplicity and a restrained palette.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos MIKE PARLAPIANO Architecture JAK ARCHITURE Syling SYLVIE GOETZ Build BOND CONSTRUCTION
The palette Wood House by JAK Architecture echoes its coastal setting.
At the rear, the home opens to a cluster of existing birch trees, extending the living space into the garden.
The coastal setting guided the material choices – durable finishes were selected to handle the salt air and hold up over time.
Eames moulded ply chair, sofa by Monde, side table from House of Orange and pendant lights from HAY.
“Designed with a growing family in mind, the home prioritises flexibility - spaces that can adapt as the children grow and the rhythms of family life change.”
A central island anchors the kitchen, where durable materials and a restrained palette shape a space for daily life.
Pendant lights from HAY.
The kitchen centres on a pared-back palette, where timber joinery and stone surfaces define a clear, functional space.
Outdoor beanbags and chairs from Eco Outdoor.
The sunroom at the rear opens seamlessly to an existing cluster of birch trees.
Wood House, in Barwon Heads, Victoria, is a measured reworking of an existing home by JAK Architecture.
The approach centres on retaining the original structure and working carefully within it, rather than starting again.
Over time, the house had been subject to a series of disjointed alterations. The design simplifies and refines these layers, improving flow between spaces and creating a more cohesive, functional home for a growing family.
Working to a modest $600,000 budget and a tight construction timeline, the project is resolved through restraint. Additions were carefully integrated within the existing envelope, allowing the original form to remain intact while the new work sits seamlessly within.
The original footprint was retained, with the focus placed on reconfiguring the interior rather than building out. New interventions sit neatly within the structure, allowing the house to read as one consistent whole. The result is clear and resolved, with a focus on how the home is used day to day.
The material palette is pared back and durable. Finishes were chosen to handle daily life, creating a backdrop that can absorb books, artwork and the natural mess of a young family.
‘Designed with a growing family in mind, the home prioritises flexibility — spaces that can shift and adapt as the children grow and as the rhythms of family life change,’ shares JAK Architecture.
The landscaping has been kept simple and practical. The front yard is planted with low-maintenance natives, tying the home to its coastal setting, while the backyard is mostly grass and sand underfoot, with space to move, play and gather.
At the rear, a sunroom opens onto an existing cluster of birch trees, bringing in soft morning light and extending the living areas outward. Large door openings allow the house and garden to connect easily, with the garden becoming an extension of the interior.
There’s a sense of ease in how the home is maintained. Finishes are resilient, spaces are uncomplicated, and nothing demands constant attention. It’s a house designed to be lived in fully, where wear and use are part of the story rather than something to be avoided.
With flexibility at its core, Wood House will be able to shift as the family grows, with rooms able to take on different roles over time. The result is a home that works now and into the future.
Project: Wood House, Barwon Heads, VIC, Australia
Architect: JAK Architecture
Photography: Mike Parlapiano
