to be excited when I look at a plan that comes across my desk,” Richie says. “I don’t like being bored during a build, so we tend to take on more complex projects. We don’t win easy jobs, put it that way.” Buena Vista’s current portfolio includes two projects in Mount Martha on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, each perched on the hillside with sweeping views of the bay. Both involve challenging split-level designs that take full advantage of the terrain. One in particular is being built partially into the hill, with a basement carved out of solid granite—a reminder that on some sites, the most demanding work happens before the home even begins to take shape. “Once we get out of the ground, it’ll be straightforward,” Richie explains, “but right now it’s all about working through those geological challenges. The end result will be a stunning architectural home with full-height windows, floor-to-ceiling views, aluminium cladding, and a really beautiful design.” Looking back, one of the standout projects for Buena Vista is a build they completed in Eaglemont in late 2024, which Richie plans to enter for a Master Builders award this year. That high-end architectural home featured raked, timber-lined ceilings and meticulous joinery throughout every room. It’s a perfect example of the company’s obsession with detail—a hallmark of its work. Richie points out that attention to detail is not something you can simply pick up overnight. “It’s something you learn over years of doing architectural work. You have to think of the final product and work backwards from there. Architects put as much detail as they can AUGUST 2025
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