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Project Details:

Location: Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia

Architect: MRTN Architects / @mrtn_architects

Landscape Design: SBLA Studio

Builder: J & S Contracting

Structural Engineer: W.J. Bryan

Photographer: Anthony Basheer / @anthonybasheer

From the Architect: “This semirural house on ex-grazing land in Tamworth was designed to transform a scrubby parched piece of land into an energy-efficient contemporary home set within a landscape of regenerated native plants.

“This part of Australia is prone to drought and it we first visited this property in the midst of one, when it was dry and dusty with only a few yellow plants clinging to life. The new home’s design focuses not only on regenerating the land and creating a garden, but also on resisting drought conditions in the future. The creation of an almost totally enclosed courtyard garden in the center of the house was one way of dealing with this. At the front of the properties, two sheds connected by a roof also connect to the house on either side, forming a square around this central courtyard.

“The aesthetics and materials of the house are designed with an agricultural aesthetic. The materials were also chosen to be recessive, including a dull silver roof, black sheets, and ironbark timber. Inside, rooms are finished in painted plasterboard, plus timber in the kitchen and tiles in the bathroom, while outdoor spaces are finished in brick, timber, and stone.

“In the center of the house is the kitchen, dining, and living pavilion, while to the west is a guest wing with bedrooms and a bathroom. To the east is the main bedroom, en suite, and walk-in wardrobe. An ‘outdoor’ room with a fireplace and roof is enclosed by insect screens.

“Connecting all buildings with a singular roof design helped to bring the scale of the house down while also providing undercover walkways between the buildings. The large courtyard helped to establish a garden, while the walkways act as breezeways, similar to those found in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean climates.

“MRTN worked closely with the landscape architects SBLA to develop the landscaping in the courtyard and surrounding the home. The land was contoured a little to create screening from the neighbors, while soil was relocated within the site. Native grasses as well as planting and reestablishing trees was vital to the regeneration of the land.

“The project has a solar panel array, north facing thermal mass, and captures water, allowing the house to cope with a severe climate that can be prone to drought and also gets cold in winter.”