Passive Home: Rye Cave House
Photographing the Passive Cave House in Rye
By Hayleigh Beach
Every now and then, a project comes along that feels less like work and more like an awakening. The Passive Cave House in Rye, designed and built by Ryan Moody of Seaspray Homes and recently featured on Grand Designs Australia, was exactly that.
It’s true this shoot was a real passion project of mine to photograph, it ignited something deep within and gave me so much joy to explore and create the images that I can only hope does it justice.
From the moment I arrived, I knew this wasn’t an ordinary shoot. This home isn’t about luxury in the traditional sense - it’s about restraint, intelligence, and harmony with the earth itself.
A Home Built from the Earth — and in Tune With It
The structure is carved into the Rye hillside, its form inspired by the natural curves of the landscape.
The raw shotcrete walls and concrete formwork feel both grounded and futuristic - a tactile reminder that beauty can live within function. Every surface tells a story: the smoothness of polished concrete underfoot, the raw edges of timber, the cool texture of exposed rock and not forgetting the deep mossy green shag of the bedroom carpets.
Photographing this was a sensory smorgasbord, every angle offered a new dialogue between light, texture, and shadow.
Witnessing the Vision from the Ground Up
I had the privilege of touring the home during its build phase, long before the finishing touches transformed it into the masterpiece it is today. Standing within its skeletal form, I could already sense the integrity of its design. The way it seemed to grow organically from the earth around it. Even without all of the glazing, furnishings, or polish, there was an undeniable presence - a calm strength that whispered this was going to be something truly special. Seeing the completed home only confirmed what I felt then: that this structure was destined to become a landmark of design and innovation on the Mornington Peninsula.
Sustainability Beyond the Buzzword
What struck me most is how this home lives and breathes entirely on its own terms. It’s a passive house, meticulously designed to maintain a stable internal temperature year-round, without traditional heating or cooling. Thick insulation, airtight construction, and triple-glazed windows work together to create an environment that feels remarkably calm and balanced.
Inside, a fruit & herb garden and vegetable patches thrive beneath specialist grow lights, bringing nature directly into the living space.
It’s more than a design feature; it’s a living ecosystem. A reminder that sustainability can be both beautiful and deeply human.
A Playful Touch of Comfort
Balancing the strength of the raw materials is the warmth and softness brought by thoughtful styling and furnishings. The interiors are layered with Kip & Co’s signature textiles - soft lilacs, playful patterns, and tactile finishes that invite you to sink in and stay a while. These pops of colour and texture dance gently against the neutral concrete and timber backdrop, softening the bold architectural lines and making the space feel both grounded and joyfully lived in.
A Photographer’s Dream
For a photographer, the challenge and joy lay in capturing the subtlety, the way natural light poured through quiet corners, illuminating curves and textures that speak more of feeling than form.
It’s a space that invites you to slow down, to touch, to listen.
Gratitude
I’m deeply grateful to Ryan Moody and the Seaspray Homes team for the opportunity to capture this extraordinary project.
The Passive Cave House is not just a home, it’s a statement of intent, a tangible expression of living lightly on the earth while embracing modern comfort and design. It’s snagged my heart.
If you’re as inspired by this project as I was, I’d love to help bring your next architectural or interiors vision to life.
Explore more of my work at hayleighbeach.com or follow along on Instagram at @beach.haus_.
