Austin McFarland.Architects were commissioned to design a second ‘winter’ home, located on a 90 ha property in the Manning Valley. They came with a clear list of requirements for rooms and their brief was “opposite to their home in Pittwater”. This summaries the process of designing for Bob, the sensible engineer and Susan, the expressive author. We hope the house is a combination of the two who will live there.
Timber and bricks are the two dominate building elements. Bricks was the reason that Bob and Susan first came to the area. Bob, a brick kiln designer, designed a new kiln for the local brickworks. The local area is timber country. Timber is another important material used for its practicality and also its beauty.
The plan is clear, simple and functional. There is a clear and direct relationship between the rooms and outdoor spaces. The clear, simple, functional plan becomes special with the desires of Susan for texture and slight chaos. People hired, materials used and systems installed were based on supporting the local area. Bob and Susan want the building process to help form relationships within their new local area.
