Rhythmic Rapport – Orange Spring House by Studio Esteta

Surrounded by long grass and natural rock forms, Studio Esteta’s Orange Spring House in New South Wales mimics the hillside upon which it sits. Though the geometry of the modernist-inspired structure contradicts the organic shapes at its edges, the earthy rendered finish reflects the hues of the environment, grounding this family home within its context and creating a rhythmic rapport between built form and nature.

Studio Esteta Director Felicity Slattery explains that the architectural response was “intentionally minimal and discreet.” The home “almost blends into the landscape unless the eye interrogates and probes to follow the clean lines of its simple form rising from the contours of the land.” Fittingly, this concept aligned with the clients’ brief for a family home that would “capture the landscape yet sit discreetly within it.”

As Felicity says, the home “almost blends into the landscape unless the eye interrogates and probes to follow the clean lines of its simple form rising from the contours of the land.”

As long-term friends who had worked together on a previous commercial project in the nearby town of Orange, Felicity and the clients, Nick – who is also the project’s builder – and Pip, possessed a solid personal and professional foundation. As Felicity explains, they were seeking “a home they could grow into, one that their family could enjoy now and bring their families to as well.” Also central to the brief was a floor plan that created fluidity between spaces whilst providing “the necessary separation for a family as it grows,” she shares.

Armed with this brief, Felicity and Co-Director Sarah Cosentino have conceived a single-storey dwelling composed of three rectangular forms stacked around an internal courtyard. “These forms have been staggered to address the prevailing weather that the site experiences but also to create a sense of separation between the key functions of the home,” Felicity notes. The central courtyard leads to the entry foyer, and from there, “three wings peel off, all located to respond to their function, the site and its aspect.” To the right is the primary pavilion, which houses the kitchen, dining and living spaces. Featuring large glass sliding doors opening onto a terrace and pond, this fluid experience is enhanced by the views over Spring Creek Dam and beyond to Mount Canobolas. Felicity says, “you can watch the sunset every day from this space, providing a different theatrical experience as the seasons and days evolve.”

“While the external form is intentionally minimal – almost strict, with sharp, clean lines – the interior, in contrast, harnesses organic forms and materiality,” Felicity describes.

The middle pavilion acts as a conduit between the three forms and houses a guest bedroom and bathroom, which conveniently doubles as a powder room, and the master suite. Located at the tip of this pavilion, the master bedroom enjoys the same uninterrupted views to the west but with an enhanced sense of seclusion and intimacy. Large thresholds between this pavilion and the central hallway allow for a feeling of connectedness when the doors are open, yet when they are closed, they “enforce complete privacy”.

The remaining spaces are located in the third pavilion, which is tucked back into the hillside with aspects to the east. Though inherently independent from the first pavilion in its layout and function, these two structures are visually connected via sightlines across the internal courtyard. This architectural move was entirely intentional; as Felicity explains, “with a central rumpus space, [this pavilion] mimics the same sense of gathering and collectiveness as the primary living zone but on a more intimate level, allowing the young members of the family to feel as though they have their own space while being connected to the rest of the home.” In addition, the ceiling height sits slightly lower, delineating it from the primary areas and creating an exaggerated sense of refuge.

Even the loftiest and most light-filled spaces emit an energy akin to that of a sanctuary, and this can be traced to Studio Esteta’s thoughtful approach to texture, tone and materiality.

Whilst certainly enhanced, the sense of repose in this pavilion is central to the overall experience of Orange Spring House. Even the loftiest and most light-filled spaces emit an energy akin to that of a sanctuary, and this can be traced to Studio Esteta’s thoughtful approach to texture, tone and materiality. “While the external form is intentionally minimal – almost strict, with sharp, clean lines – the interior, in contrast, harnesses organic forms and materiality,” Felicity describes. Curved profiles in the joinery and ceiling, textured paint, travertine floors and other materials that will patina over time – such as aged brass hardware – “draw on the rustic nature of the external elements” and bring a slight brawniness to the pre-dominantly airy and bright aesthetic. As Felicity notes, “it’s a neutral base that Pip and Nick have built on with their art and collectables. Not only does it completely reflect their personalities and how they live but it signifies their strong connection to the land and their rural upbringings, too.”

As well as the main central courtyard, Studio Esteta has designed a series of external courtyards that wrap the building in sections, shielding it from the sometimes-volatile weather conditions. Felicity explains that these protected, outdoor pockets “allow the building and its surrounds to be experienced throughout the year, not limiting the clients to complete internal retreat should the weather be unpleasant.” This architectural outcome demanded an informed response to the exterior materiality, and the prevailing render was specified for its robust nature and finish that will patina but not deteriorate over time. Fittingly, this render – which was inspired by Pip’s travels to Morocco – does much of the heavy lifting in settling this home into the landscape. As Felicity says, “the colour changes and adapts with the light – at times it appears a soft pink, at others a sandy beige – essentially changing with the weather patterns and time, helping to further ingrain it into its site as if it was one of the boulders on the hillside.”

With a tempo drawn directly from the natural environment and an internal experience that offers refuge, comfort and recourse, Orange Spring House is simultaneously still and kinetic. This balanced outcome is no coincidence, and its thoughtful execution illustrates Studio Esteta’s sensitive yet rigorous architectural aptitude.