A Rural Connection – Red Hill Farm House by Carr and JCB

Deeply connected to its surrounds, Red Hill Farm House sits naturally in its rural setting, and yet refined through an attentive rigor and elevated offering. Carr together with JCB propose the combined equine business and residence in such a relaxed and deliberate manner that the two intercepts effortlessly, accentuating one another.

Set amongst the undulating and lushly vegetated Mornington Peninsula, Red Hill Farm House is a dark and deliberately subdued addition to its site, ensuring the focus remains squarely on the enviable surrounding landscape. Imagined as an elevated residential escape in its removed location, the resulting home is the coming together of a considered rigor and attentiveness, defined by its restraint. The large and generous openings that encase the home allow a front row seat to the surrounding happenings, and the co-habitation of the site with the accompanying equine business from the stables. Together, Carr and JCB insert a respectfully responsive form that draws on the rural vernacular, while ensuring a sense of contemporary crispness remains unwaveringly in place.

Both in its exterior and interior architectural approaches, the home takes on a minimal approach, both in its selection of materials and the elements existing within the space.

Built by VCON, together with landscapes carefully curated by Paul Bangay, Red Hill Farm House strikes a balance between being delicate and also anchored to its site. Right from the entry, and through framed portals at the end of long and extended corridors as one moves through the home, animated landscape scenes abound and ensure the reminder of place is felt throughout. Both in its exterior and interior architectural approaches, the home takes on a minimal approach, both in its selection of materials and the elements existing within the space. Each piece has been curated and crafted for the function of its purpose and aligns with a vein of subdued muteness. The inserted furniture, lighting and artwork all add to the experience of the home, while not distracting from the view.

Perching out, Red Hill Farmhouse sits overlooking rolling hills and expansive views in the distance. While the home is set amongst farmland, the form is a modern interpretation of the more traditional rural buildings in the area. Encased in sheet metal and steel, the low-lying form hugs the terrain, while embracing modernist principles where long-spanning steel members allow for uninterrupted views and an internal openness. Across the site, the forms are staggered, adjusted to align with the earth underfoot, instead of imposing itself in place. While the linear approach connects to a familiar language in the surrounding wine region, the folding and creasing roof form becomes an identifier for the home and its own unique interaction with the landscape.

While the home is set amongst farmland, the form is a modern interpretation of the more traditional rural buildings in the area.

Carr and JCB’s Red Hill Farm House integrates a sensitive approach both in its form and its integrated sustainable energy systems, ensuring it sits immersive and engaged.