McCraith House, Modernist house in Dromana, Victoria, Australia.
The McCraith House is a residential structure elevated on a stone base with a distinctive butterfly roof and triangulated steel frames supporting the design. Parking space sits beneath the cantilevered section, while the upper level contains the main living areas and bedrooms.
Architects Chancellor and Patrick designed the residence in 1954 for Gerald and Ellen McCraith, with construction finished in 1956. This project emerged when Australia was experimenting with fresh approaches to holiday home architecture.
The residence shaped how holiday homes were built in this region by prioritizing views and bringing modernist design principles into domestic living spaces. Its open layout and simple geometric forms reflected new ideas about what a seaside home could be.
Wear sturdy shoes since the building sits on elevated ground with stairs needed to access different levels. Clear weather enhances the experience, as the bay views that define the site are best appreciated in good visibility.
The structure uses prefabricated steel components assembled on site rather than built from scratch. This industrial approach was uncommon for residential buildings of that era and significantly reduced construction time and costs.
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