Engaging the scenery

This low-lying residence reveals its scenic charms by degrees – the design optimises comfortable living as well as interaction with the rustic setting

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Despite the home's expansive setting, visitors never feel dwarfed by the outlook. The interconnecting terraces and courtyards mean the house is interwoven with intimate outdoor spaces that in turn give way to the greater countryside – this avoids a disconcerting contrast between the interior and the wide-open spaces.

In terms of day-to-day living, the stepped layout enables the owners to use all the house or just sections of it, depending on whether their entire family is in residence.

"When by themselves, the couple literally occupy half the home, leaving the second bedroom pavilion and its terrace unused," says Chaplin. "The design provides an intimacy of scale within what is actually a large, stretched-out house."

The stepped-pavilion lay-out provides other advantages to the owners as well.

"With so many exposed faces to the home, natural light floods through the interiors," says Chaplin. "In summer, the family, dining and kitchen pavilion receives the most use, while in winter the couple tend to favour the more intimate, flat-roofed living area that connects the bedroom and family wings. Both spaces are served by substantial fires."

Also in terms of weather, the terraces and courtyards threaded through the design offer various outdoor retreats from prevailing winds. Dark steel pergolas bring shade for these areas through the summer and provide tonal contrast to the white plastered exterior walls.

Seen end-on, the pavilions appear slender, despite enclosing substantial volumes.

"For example, the largest pavilion, the family room, is extremely narrow from its tin roof through to the internal ceiling," says Chaplin. "The strong steel frame and intermediary bracing fit within a narrow 300mm shell."

These lightweight profiles are contrasted with the solid-look chimneys that service the homes's three fireplaces – two indoors and one out.

Besides looks and function, the residence is also a pleasure to walk through. A central corridor runs from the front of the house through to the views at the back. As you progress towards the final pavilion, the wings, courtyards and glass walls on either side provide a pleasing architectural rhythm that leads you forward.

First published date: 05 October 2009