Great Ocean Road Residence

This monumental home by Nik Karalis and Brandon Yeoh of Woods Bagot was designed for Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, and is a response to the rugged bushland site. Perched on the edge of a hillside on a remote location along Victorias iconic Great Ocean Road, the H-shaped form of the home is also a nod to Sidney Nolans iconic paintings of Ned Kelly wearing his infamous helmet. The exquisitely crafted interior frames expansive views over an impressive garden designed by Phillip Johnson Landscapes complete with a billabong-inspired pool and the Lorne-Queenscliff Coastal Reserve. The ground floor is designed for serious entertaining, with a state-of-the-art kitchen, an indoor pool with its own cinema, and fully appointed bar with walk-in, climate-controlled wine cellar. The master bedroom suite is set atop the home, with a panoramic 360-degree view over the ocean and bushland. This extraordinary interior is complemented by Tongue & Groove solid engineered European oak floorboards in the Penza colour, with a subtly oversized Grande format that emphasises the sense of space. The aged, dark brown tones of Penza are elevated by the pre-distressed, hand-scraped style that celebrates the characterful grain of the natural oak and evokes the raw beauty of the surrounding landscape.