Toolern Vale House by Robert Nichol and Sons

Set over 24 hectares of quintessential Australian landscape, Toolern Vale House is a study in restraint and balance.

Designed by Robert Nichol and Sons and located 40 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, the residence reflects a nuanced approach to living, offering a space that is both expansive and intimate. The clients, a mature couple with a sizeable extended family, sought a home that could accommodate their diverse needs, both for large gatherings and quiet moments. This duality – a desire for both spaciousness and intimacy – formed the cornerstone of the architectural response.

This duality – a desire for both spaciousness and intimacy – formed the cornerstone of the architectural response.

The brief was relatively straightforward: a single-level home with polished concrete floors, a specific floor plan and a design that would engage meaningfully with the surrounding landscape. While a clear framework was established, the brief also left room for exploration, particularly in how the home would interact with its environment and in the choice of materials that would define its character.

Approaching Toolern Vale House, the first thing that catches the eye is a long, rammed-earth wall; its presence is both solid and unassuming. This wall, paired with shou sugi ban cladding by Eco Timber Group, forms the western wing of the house that contains secondary bedrooms. The choice of rammed earth was deliberate: it’s a material that will age gracefully while grounding the home in its rural setting, anchoring the building in a way that feels both timeless and entirely appropriate to its location. “The clients wanted something that felt substantial, something that would last,” says Brett Robertson, director at Robert Nichol and Sons. Serving a structural and aesthetic role, the rammed earth wall by Olnee Rammed Earth subtly embodies the durability and longevity central to the design, while the modesty of the exterior belies the spatial drama that unfolds within.

While a clear framework was established, the brief also left room for exploration, particularly in how the home would interact with its environment and in the choice of materials that would define its character.

At the entry, a large, expansive window by Yokor Windows frames distant views of the property. This window draws the eye outward and sets the tone for the experience within, where the landscape is ever-present. The entry sequence is thoughtfully punctuated by an oval-shaped powder room, clad in ceramic Japanese tiles. This bold design choice, which initially gave the clients pause, has since become a defining feature. “The powder room stands sculpturally in the centre of the entry, presenting with curiosity and functioning more as an object rather than a room,” says Robertson. Its unexpected form contrasts with the otherwise linear architecture, creating a focal point that is both surprising and delightful.

The interior spaces of Toolern Vale House unfold as a series of interconnected rooms, each with its own distinct character yet linked by a consistent language. The main living areas are expansive, with raked ceilings and concrete floors that amplify the sense of space. The cool, polished surface underfoot provides a counterbalance to the warmth of the timber accents and textured walls. The entertainer’s kitchen features a large butler’s pantry and a nearly six-metre wall of sliding glass doors. When opened, these doors disappear into the wall, erasing the boundary between inside and out and allowing the living space to spill effortlessly into the outdoor entertaining area. “We gave each room its own character while ensuring they all connected through generous openings,” says Robertson. This thoughtful approach to spatial arrangement ensures that the house feels cohesive, even as each area offers something unique.

The interior spaces of Toolern Vale House unfold as a series of interconnected rooms, each with its own distinct character yet linked by a consistent language.

The relationship between Toolern Vale House and its surroundings is key. Extensive glazing ensures that natural light floods the interiors, creating a dynamic play of light and shadow that changes throughout the day. The home’s orientation was carefully considered to maximise solar gain, with polished concrete floors and walls capturing and retaining heat during cooler months. Sustainability was a quiet priority, embedded in choices like thermally broken windows and a solar array on the garage roof, making the house as efficient as it is beautiful.

Toolern Vale House doesn’t shout its presence; instead, it offers a subtle, considered response to its environment. The spatial configuration enhances the relationship to the outdoors, with each room offering carefully framed views of the landscape. The large floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living areas are particularly effective in capturing evening sunsets, creating a tranquil and ever-changing backdrop to daily life. These views are not just incidental but are the result of careful planning, with openings strategically placed to take in specific vistas.

Toolern Vale House doesn’t shout its presence; instead, it offers a subtle, considered response to its environment.

“We wanted to ensure the house didn’t just sit on the landscape but engaged with it, creating a dialogue between the built form and its surroundings,” says Robertson. The result is a dwelling that feels deeply connected to its site, where the boundaries between inside and outside are fluid, and the architecture serves as a lens through which to observe the landscape.

Toolern Vale House provides a sanctuary where architecture and landscape exist in harmony. The project’s success lies in its ability to balance the grand with the modest, to offer spaces that feel both expansive and intimate, and to do so in a way that feels effortless.

In a setting that could easily have overwhelmed a lesser design, the Robert Nichol and Sons-designed home stands out – not through large gestures but with a thoughtful and deliberate response to both its environment and the lives of those who call it home.

Architecture and interior design by Robert Nichol and Sons. Engineering by Meyer Consulting.