New residence in rural Victoria born from the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfires

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Scope of Project

- Rural Living Zone

- New residential dwelling for a young family

- Emerging and challenging regulations for Bushfire prone areas

- Fantastic location and views

- Clients willing to embrace less common materials and finishes 

 

In detail...

 

At the very beginning of my new career I was given a lovely opportunity…on the back of a tragic event in history. 

 

A young family had recently purchased a property and were intending to renovate and live in the beautiful old federation home existing on the site. Just as they were about to move in the Black Saturday fires took the home leaving behind a pile of ashes where the house once stood and a couple of machinery sheds.  After much deliberation on what to do next the young family decided to use the experience as an opportunity to design and build a new home on an even more beautiful location on their new property. 

 

The owners were keen on a sleek, modern approach to a rural home, something that integrated with their property - was ‘meant to be there’. Simple lines, being super easy to maintain, be warm and inviting, and have the ability to lock up and leave, were the must have aspects of their brief. 

 

Fortunately several beautiful old gumtrees managed to survive the fires, which instead of creating a moonscape, framing a picturesque approach to the new house site from the main road. A pavilion style concept was adopted, separating the sleeping & wet areas from the living & communal areas. The glass link between the pavilions forming an entrance which perfectly captured the incredible views over the valleys and surrounding rolling hills.

 

Corrugated iron external cladding was used for both speed of installation, cost effectiveness and appropriateness for the location – allowing the home to sit unobtrusively in its surrounds. A polished concrete slab was adopted for the floors, for thermal mass and to incorporate the hydronic heating coil, coloured aggregate and oxides added for interest and a warmer tone throughout the home. The budget was carefully managed ensuring that money was allocated where really needed – knowing that the other ‘like to haves‘ would come over time. High specification double glazed windows, extensive cabinetry, with quality fixtures and fittings were selected and installed throughout. All of this providing the perfect base for the family to grow & enjoy as life evolved. 

 

The finished product became a very functional family home and added considerable monetary and lifestyle value to the property. Its low maintenance construction made it an absolute winner for the owners.