ALPINE LODGE

"TO KNOW THE MOUNTAIN,

ONE MUST COME TO KNOW IT IN ALL IT’S MOODS,

IN SUN AND STORM,
IN CALM AND FURY”

- NAN SHEPHERD, THE LIVING MOUNTAIN

A single black egg resting on a plain white background.

SHORTLISTED - RESIDENTIAL DESIGN & RESIDENTIAL DECORATION
AUSTRALIAN INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS 2026

A RETREAT ON A MOUNT HOTHAM RIDGELINE, UNFOLDING OVER FOUR LEVELS FROM SKI-LEVEL ENTRY TO PANORAMIC LIVING ABOVE

Alpine Lodge occupies a rare freehold site at Mount Hotham, on the traditional lands of the Gunaikurnai and Taungurung peoples, positioned to capture uninterrupted views across surrounding national parkland.

Developed in collaboration with Troppo Architects and the client, the project brings architecture and interiors into alignment as a continuous spatial sequence. Working within an established envelope, the interior approach takes a leading role in shaping how each level is experienced, through material, light and proportion.


Arrival begins at the ski-in, ski-out basement. Western Red Cedar and heated bluestone crazy paving form a durable threshold after time on the mountain.

Above, a bathing level is held in shadow. Sauna, shower and plunge unfold as a sequence for recovery, defined by smoked eucalyptus, corten steel and Japanese tiles.

The sleeping level is wrapped in American Cherry veneer with Blackbutt flooring. Bedrooms are quieter in tone, with the main suite oriented to the horizon.

At the uppermost level, the plan opens outward. Kitchen and dining occupy the primary edge, while a more contained living zone is anchored by a double-sided fireplace. A curved custom sofa and stone island establish a grounded centre.

Delivered as a complete interior scope, the studio oversaw all furnishings, fixtures and final installation, preparing the home for immediate use across the ski season.

A calm, materially grounded interior offering a measured counterpoint to its alpine setting.

A wooden dining table with several black chairs inside a room with large windows overlooking mountain scenery. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne, Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
Wooden entryway with hooks holding jackets, backpacks, and helmets, and a shoe rack with shoes below. Alpoine mudroom. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne, Mount Hotham, architect collaboration.
View of a modern entrance with a wooden slat ceiling and walls, a door opening to a scenic landscape with mountains, a mirror on the left, and a bench on the right, with stone flooring. Alpine Lodge interior design Mount Hotham architect collaborate.
Interior of a living room with a large glass door leading to a balcony with mountain views, dark wood walls and ceiling, a brown sofa with pillows, a wooden coffee table with a book and decorative items, and a modern pendant light.
A small, cozy study nook with wooden walls, a desk, and a black chair. There is a window with vertical wooden blinds and a round wall light providing warm illumination. Decorative vases and framed artwork are on a shelf above the desk.
Illustration of a multi-story house with detailed floor plans for each level, set against a mountain landscape with trees and birds.
Illustration of a multi-story house with detailed floor plans for each level, set against a mountain landscape with trees and birds.
Floor plan of a multi-level house showing the ski basement level, ground floor, first floor, and second floor with various rooms labeled in red text.
Floor plan of a multi-level house showing the ski basement level, ground floor, first floor, and second floor with various rooms labeled in red text.

COLLABORATORS

DESIGN TEAM: KIM KNEIPP, CLAUDIA BLOXSOME
LOCATION: MOUNT HOTHAM, VICTORIA
YEAR OF COMPLETION: 2025


ARCHITECT: TROPPO ARCHITECTS
BUILDER: VAN HEEK CONSTRUCTION & SCAFFOLD
JOINERY: CCK CUSTOM CABINETS
PHOTOGRAPHER: PETER BENNETTS

Modern interior of a bedroom with wooden walls and ceiling, large windows, and a decorative mirror. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
Modern bathroom with large floor-to-ceiling windows revealing mountains and snow outside, featuring a freestanding bathtub, a faucet, and dark marble accents. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
A cozy living room with large windows overlooking snow-covered mountains. The room features wooden walls and ceiling, a dresser with ceramic pots, and a dark curtain partially covering the window. Alpine Lodge interior design Mount Hotham
A rustic wooden table with a book, a small vintage teapot, and decorative stones and dried plant branches, near a window with sunlight. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
View from inside a wooden cabin at sunset, with large glass windows overlooking snowy mountains and a colorful sky. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
Interior of a modern space featuring a staircase with wooden steps and black metal supports, a stone wall, wooden paneling, and large windows with vertical wooden slats. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
A dimly lit room with dark walls and a door opening into a brighter space with a beige wall and a round light fixture. There are rolled-up towels on shelves to the right. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
A modern living room with a brown sofa, green rug, coffee table, and decorative items. There's a large window with black curtains overlooking a mountainous landscape.
Contemporary living room featuring a rust-colored sofa with pillows, a black wooden coffee table with decorative stones and dried plants, stone flooring, dark wood ceiling and walls, a staircase with wooden slats, and a black metal railing.
Cozy modern living room with dark wood-paneled walls, a large window showing a mountain landscape, a beige sofa, a black shelving unit with decorative objects, a hanging woven lamp, and a wooden coffee table with books and decor.
A modern bathroom with wooden wall and ceiling accents, a glass shower enclosure, a wall-mounted toilet, a marble vanity, and beige tiled walls. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
A cozy bedroom with wood-paneled walls, a bed with green bedding and fur throw pillows, a small round wooden side table, wall-mounted reading lamp, and an open doorway with curtains leading to a balcony or window.
Inside a modern, minimalist living or dining area with large windows showing a sunset view of mountains and sky. The room has wooden elements, a hanging white pendant light, a table with puzzle pieces, and a plush gray rug.
Wooden sauna interior with tile walls, a small window, and a showerhead. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
Wooden entryway with shelves and hooks holding three helmets, two jackets, and backpacks. Shoes placed below on a stone floor, with a door and window to the left. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
View through doorway into a room with wooden walls and ceiling, a mirror on the wall, and an open door leading outside to a landscape with mountains. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
Interior of a room with large windows showing a scenic outdoor landscape, wooden ceiling and wall accents, a hanging light fixture, dining table with chairs, and a decorative vase.
Modern kitchen with dark wood cabinets, a black stove, a marble countertop with rocks and bread on a wooden cutting board, and a wooden ceiling. In the background, a living room with large windows, a beige sectional sofa, and a wood-burning stove.
A small wooden office nook with a built-in desk and shelves, decorated with a black vase holding branches, a small black vase, and a framed landscape picture. There is a window with wooden slats, a black chair, and green carpeting.
Living room with a white sectional sofa decorated with fluffy pillows, a dark wood coffee table with books and bowls, large windows showing outdoor trees and snow, and wood-paneled walls and ceiling.
Modern kitchen with a large marble island, dark base cabinets, and wooden walls with multiple windows showing a scenic mountain view. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
A cozy bedroom with wooden walls and ceiling, a bed with beige bedding and pillows, a small wooden side table with a glass, and a window with sheer curtains letting in natural light.
Modern bathroom with beige and brown tiles, a large round showerhead, a small mirror, a vase with greenery, a bottle of soap, and a wooden cabinet with a towel. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
A modern bedroom with large windows showing a snowy landscape outside, wooden paneling on the ceiling and walls, a bathtub near the windows, and a bed in the foreground with a textured blanket, a green rug, and curtains.
Interior of a living room with wooden walls and ceiling, featuring a white sofa with plush cushions, a coffee table, and a black fireplace chimney. Large windows reveal trees outside, and there's a wood and stone hearth with logs beneath the fireplac
Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, a marble island, and large windows with mountain and sky view. Alpine Lodge interior design Melbourne Mount Hotham architect collaboration.
A modern dining room with wooden walls and ceiling, large windows showing a mountain view, a wooden dining table with chairs, a lamp hanging from the ceiling, a vase on the table, and puzzle pieces scattered on the table.

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