4 minute read

Material marvel

Next Article
Pizza perfection

Pizza perfection

marvelmaterial

Advertisement

With a nod to its heritage roots, this classic yet functional home sits comfortably and effortlessly within an idyllic landscape.

By Marina Williams - Photography by Leon Schoots

On seeing the striking landscape that enveloped the acreage for sale in the Mandurang Valley, a young couple knew they had found the land on which to build their family home. Living in a semi-rural setting had been their decade-long dream, and one they wanted to embrace with a house that suited the topography of rolling green hills and fertile soils. Lucas Hodgens from Eplus Architecture was brought on board to design the home that would “fit the site and be respectful of the historic area in which it would sit”. “There’s a number of historical properties in the neighbourhood, so together we embarked on a challenge of trying to design a piece of architecture that was striking and something that the owners would be proud of. “We quickly determined that it needed to be a building that had a contemporary take on a farmhouse, that would be read as a cluster of buildings, that would also sit comfortably and address a different element of the site.” The home would be north-facing and simple in design and structure, as would a nearby large shed. Spaces between the buildings would be designed as outdoor areas protected from the weather and north-westerlies.

Fittingly, the buildings feature traditional agricultural materials such as corrugated iron, galvanised steel and native hardwood. But in a contemporary twist and a nod to fine detail, the downpipes and spouting on the home are concealed; and the hardwood weatherboards charred rather than painted. “With these finishes we have a play of contemporary architecture in a traditional model,” says Lucas. “The result is a strong architectural form just by the detailing, which is clean and minimalist. It is clear it is a building of the 21st century, but one that is respectful of its neighbouring buildings.” Fundamentally, he says, “it’s a fourbedroom family home for a young, growing family”. Steve Bish Building undertook construction of the home. The interior scheme has been equally considered, and is a stylish mix of “practicality and robustness”, blending stone, timber and concrete throughout. Each material had to function: the concrete floors and windows to enhance the thermal properties of the home; stone fitted by VStone to be a durable finish for the benchtops; and the timber doors and cabinetry adding overall warmth against the white-walled interior. Adds the owner: “Heating and cooling was the big one for us. We didn’t want to design a massive house. We wanted a home that we would feel really comfortable in through a long, cold winter; have large windows with a northerly aspect and lots of natural light, from a thermal point of view, and for taking in the beautiful surroundings.

“Designing a space around our family was such a privilege to go through and we really enjoyed that. This is our home for years to come, and Lucas helped us to get the most value for money through clever design. Steve was also fantastic to work with, his incredible focus on detail meant that quality was never compromised. “Every bit of space is maximised to our way of living. We also have a house that performs thermally (reducing its carbon footprint), and it considers our health and wellbeing as well. We walk in the door from work and instantly feel calm.” Lucas is equally proud of the home and its surrounds. “It might sound cliché but when you design a home with a client, you are on a journey together. As a resident of the Mandurang Valley area, I am so pleased with how this home sits in the environment. Working with the owners has been a true pleasure as they had their vision and were open to how that would be interpreted for the best outcome. It is a home for the family, the region and the times.”

We provide maintenance, repairs and building services to domestic, property management and commercial clients. Offering a multi-trade service with qualified tradesman so your job is cost effective with a quick turnaround time.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE...

Building Maintenance Plastering Rendering Painting Carpentry Tiling

Plumbing Electrical Fencing Concreting Rubbish Removal Renovations Cleaning Garden Maintenance Landscaping Furniture Removals Goods Pickup & Deliveries & much more...

This article is from: