Conscious Family Living – Brown Hill House by Eldridge Anderson Architects

Embodying a simple and rustic elegance, Brown Hill House by Eldridge Anderson is an enduring family home that eloquently responds to its site and the needs of the family living there. Nestled into its rural Victorian locale, the design thoughtfully embraces existing natural terrain and a challenging sloped site to create a house that is ensconced in the landscape.

Responsive design is central to the design direction of Brown Hill House. The structure of the home is most significantly informed by the site – the footprint of the home reflects the natural slope of the land, so that the residence ages gracefully and sits comfortably on the decline. As the natural slope of the site falls in two directions, a series of levels and a sloping roofline with an arched edge become central features that also provide sun protection while creating a visual connection between different spaces.

A deep appreciation of the existing landscape also informs Brown Hill House, Eldridge Anderson approaching the home with a desire to create a dwelling that blends into the existing flora.

The home is robust, designed to accommodate a young family with a social and active lifestyle and maintain a modest façade from the street. As such, it is large enough to host gatherings while retaining a sense of intimacy in its layout, with stepped floor plates reflecting different family zones. The floor plan also speaks to a need to supervise the children and comprise places for retreat for the parents.

A deep appreciation of the existing landscape also informs Brown Hill House, Eldridge Anderson approaching the home with a desire to create a dwelling that blends into the existing flora. An expansive central courtyard acts as the pulse of the home – a sheltered centre that welcomes light and maintains the existing eucalyptus trees while once again working with the natural contour of the land.

A robust and raw material palette sits nicely with the home’s bushland locale.

A robust and raw material palette sits nicely with the home’s bushland locale. A mixture of concrete and masonry is used for the home’s exterior, complemented by a grey external palette with a soft patinaed effect, imbuing the house with the sense that it has been a part of the land for many years. Hardwood timber frames are used in the courtyard and are also used for the exposed timber roof structure through the hallway space. A light and predominantly neutral palette features throughout the interior, reflecting light and creating a dynamic feeling inside the home, while the bathrooms are dominated by a slightly darker palette to create privacy.

The soft, organic repose of Brown Hill House evokes a sense of harmony – with the site, landscape and the family living there. In creating a home that directly responds to its environmental context, Eldridge Anderson beautifully embodies the principles of considered, responsive design.