SIX ACRES HOUSE - COUNTRY NSW

SET WITHIN THE ROLLING LANDSCAPE OF THE SHOALHAVEN REGION, THIS 125-YEAR-OLD HERITAGE COTTAGE COMMANDS SWEEPING VIEWS ACROSS THE BERRY MOUNTAIN ESCARPMENT. ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED AS THE PRIMARY HOMESTEAD ON A SIGNIFICANT PARCEL OF FARMLAND, THE DWELLING STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO RURAL VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE OF THE LATE 19TH CENTURY. FOLLOWING A SENSITIVE RESTORATION, THE COTTAGE HAS BEEN CAREFULLY RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL CHARACTER, PRESERVING KEY ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS AND MATERIAL AUTHENTICITY.

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TO THE REAR, A CONTEMPORARY ADDITION HAS BEEN SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATED, PROVIDING A CONSIDERED CONTRAST TO THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE. THIS MODERN EXTENSION ACCOMMODATES A DOUBLE GARAGE, UTILITY SPACES, AND AN OPEN-PLAN KITCHEN, DINING, AND LIVING AREA.

EACH SPACE IS ORIENTED TO ENGAGE WITH THE SURROUNDING NATIVE LANDSCAPE. THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN OLD AND NEW IS UNDERSCORED BY A RESTRAINED MATERIAL PALETTE AND A DESIGN APPROACH THAT FOREGROUNDS SPATIAL CONNECTION, NATURAL LIGHT, AND THE SITE'S ENDURING SENSE OF PLACE.

 

LANDSCAPE IS INTEGRAL TO THE EXPERIENCE HERE. THE NEW ARCHITECTURE IS EMBEDDED IN NATURAL VEGETATION. THE LANDSCAPE WRAPS THE BUILDING, BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, SHELTER AND SITE. THE RESULT IS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, BETWEEN THE HANDMADE AND THE MINIMAL, BETWEEN HISTORY AND WHAT COMES NEXT.

THIS IS HERITAGE, REDEFINED. STRIPPED BACK. BUILT FOR TODAY, WITH DEEP RESPECT FOR YESTERDAY.

 

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LOCATION                BERRY (AUSTRALIA)

COMPLETED          2025

BUILDER                   BUILDFEST IN COLLABORATION WITH

                              BASALT BUILDING PROJECTS

PHOTOGRAPHS  TOM FERGUSON

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