“The thing that drew me to this land was a craving to be close to Montfort Beach, where I’d done a lot of surfing in the past,” says the recently retired founding director of InForm, Chris McKimm. His love for this land knows no bounds; an enduring love affair that can be traced back to his teenage years. “My introduction to Montfort Beach came about 50 years ago when it was an unknown surf break and I remember the very first day a friend and I walked down there and we saw these incredible waves,” Chris recalls, with warm nostalgia.
“We spent the whole day down there coming in and out of the surf, and that started a lifelong love of that beach for me.” It would be quite surreal then, for the Chris of all of those years ago to imagine his reality today: waking up and looking out to the undulating sandy paths that once led him to that magical surf break.
“Ultimately, we wanted to create a home that really blended in with the environment because that is what is most special about this location,” Chris says. The term ‘special’ doesn’t quite capture the impact this environment has on those lucky enough to experience it. To my right, winter sun streams through the full-height glass framing the intense hues of the orange sunrise just hours earlier.
To my left, the pool quietly glistens in the foreground. Beyond it, lofty sand dunes and the colours of the environment fill the view: silvers, greens, yellows, and blues. At its core, the design works as a viewing platform from which to observe and appreciate nature. On still days, the pavilion-like structure opens up to embrace the weather and the landscape. When the weather calls for staying indoors, the interior provides a warm sanctuary to witness the outside world.
