Agriculturally Inspired – Leogatha Shed by Wolveridge Architects

Inspired by its agricultural surrounds, Leogatha Shed sits comfortably in its established garden setting in Victoria’s Gippsland. Wolveridge Architects have combined an inherent sustainability together with a grid arrangement on site.

Located in Victoria’s Gippsland, Leogatha Shed sits on the established garden setting of a rural property. The brief was primarily driven by two main elements; to be incredibly sustainable and also to be able to be built by its client, one without a background in construction. Sourcing inspiration from the previously existing agricultural vernacular on site, a recompositing of the primary elements make up the core concept principles of Leogatha Shed. Wolveridge Architects bring a sensibility of form and fascination with contextual materiality to propose a structure that is both playful and appropriate.

Taking the form of an asymmetrical overall volume, Leogatha Shed is comprised of galvanised steel and reverse brick veneer. The galvanised steel takes the form of large sheets, oversized flashing, canopy elements to abate the summer solar gains and operable panels to mediate heat permeability of the structure. With integrated underfloor slab heating and double stud construction, the structure has achieved close to 8 stars with regard to its energy efficiency, which is remarkable in itself. The resulting arrangement of materiality on the site reflects fascinating with the preceding architecture found on site, and familiar to many agriculture buildings. Found materials, and an as-needed arrangement usually occurs, but in this case, Wolveridge wanted to reference the materiality but add consideration to the process.

Sat between old sheds, in an area abundant with natural light and with framed views of the existing gardens, Leogatha Shed found its literal footings. Both externally and internally, references to context are clear, and the coming together of timber cladding, timber window frames, brick and corrugated iron was a natural one. Nuanced details of pressed metal ceilings to the veranda soffit and Australian black form-fly for the ceilings also add a textural and historical reference. Spread over two levels, the ground floor sees the bedrooms separated by the central living space, with centres around the fire, and are all flooded with natural northern light.

Overlooking its surrounding garden, Leogatha Shed optimises its northern and southerly aspects, welcoming hordes of sunlight and creating a natural breezeway in this narrow dwelling. Purposely non-residential and not quite agricultural, Wolveridge Architects have played with contextual cues and created a dwelling that speaks to a residential comfort and is at the same time comfortable in its rural setting. Leogatha Shed challenges the typical approach to dwellings, embraces its location and shows how easily sustainable principles can be embedded into architecture to make the building perform from an energy perspective, as well as functionally.

Located in Victoria’s Gippsland, Leogatha Shed sits on the established garden setting of a rural property.

Taking the form of an asymmetrical overall volume, Leogatha Shed is comprised of galvanised steel and reverse brick veneer.