Bluff Farm House

The clients had a long relationship with the site having grown up on the property, and following a move to Sydney, holidaying there regularly over the years. The new house was conceived as a holiday house that could become a primary residence in the future. It had to be a low maintenance, “walk in / walk out” residence with the flexibility to accommodate either a single couple or several families. An adjacent cottage was also renovated as part of the project. The material selection considered the necessity for longevity and durability, along with design elements that could be adapted over time. The client had a keen interest in architecture and design and during discussions about the character of the house, referenced the Case Study Houses and architects such as Neutra, Schindler and Kerry Hill. The architectural expression of the design concept was realized in the refuge of the enclosing precast concrete wall which wraps around the sleeping and service zones, and the prospect provided by the sheltering canopy steel framed roof and glazed walls which contain the living spaces.

The unusual use of precast concrete in a residential application was challenging yet appropriate in the rural context, and proved economical. The lightness of the galvanised steel structure contrasts the mass and weight of the precast concrete. Materials are left naturally finished rather than painted, giving a rawness and agricultural, rather than polished tone to the building. The building is designed using solar passive principles, and the polished concrete floor and precast walls provide high thermal mass. Recycled Tallowood is used throughout the project for doors, exposed studwork and joinery. A 130,000 litre rainwater tank supplies all water needs for the site, and the large canopy roofs provide effective collection areas for this tank. Water is heated using a solar system. Cross ventilation is provided to all rooms, and high louvres on the south elevation below the primary floating roof effectively vents hot air from the high ceiling spaces. A backup air conditioning system and in-slab heating is provided for extreme periods. Retractable Vental louvres protect the Western facade and verandah from low Summer afternoon sun. Solar studies were conducted to determine optimal eaves widths. A range of lighting options are provided to each space so that the character of rooms can be adjusted for different uses. General lighting is provided by concealed dimmable strip fluorescent battens and large uplights, while task and feature lights operate on different circuits.

The site is a rural property currently used for grazing cattle set amongst the beautiful undulating countryside of the Upper Hunter Valley. It was part of a larger property owned by the current owner’s parents. A demountable cottage was removed from the site selected for the location of the house. The grassy terrace adjacent to the old eucalypt had traditionally been used for picnics and barbeques, and with its northern aspect and views over the river and up the valley was a natural choice for the location of the new house. Little preparation of the site was required apart from minor levelling. The house faces due north, the low pitched skillion roof opening the building to the primary views and winter solar access. The bedrooms are located on the southern side, and were perceived as rudimentary sleeping quarters, enclosed within the concrete and masonry walls. This dichotomy of building elements is resolved in the singular gesture of the form closing down to the south and opening up to the north. The form of the building reads as an object in the landscape: a distinct, identifiable presence like the individual trees in a Fred Williams painting. The design evolved from an initial linear scheme along the top of the river bank to the final building form which predominantly addresses the grassy terrace and views to the North. This evolution was a result of the clients input and understanding of how they have used the site and plan to use it in the future.