This house aims to rewild a cleared site, which once would have sat on the edge of the ‘Big-Scrub’ rainforest. The new house is designed to sit gently in the landscape, while actively contributing to the surrounding ecosystem.
A garden wall provides a sense of privacy and refuge from the street, whilst establishing the entry sequence through the sunken entry garden. This controlled garden allows for a quiet connection to nature at an intimate scale, enriching the arrival experience and reinforcing the balance between openness and retreat. The garden also provides protection from the harsh northerly winds.
The material choices were driven by sustainability, as well as exploring a contemporary take on what an Australian design language can be. Literally made from the surrounding earth, and covered in native grasses, the building is set to disappear into the natural landscape. Internally, stainless steel and contemporary detailing offsets the rammed earth and concrete.
