Expansive Traditional – The Farmhouse by Studio John Irving Architects

Matching the expanse of its site, The Farmhouse sits generously across a slightly elevated landing to ensure optimal views enforce a connection to place. Studio John Irving Architects proposes a coastal sanctuary that transports beyond the traditional rural residential vernacular whilst remaining connected to its origins.

Nestled within a serene rural expanse, the objective of The Farmhouse was to create an ensemble of structures that evoke an interconnected sensibility whilst maintaining the charm and character expected of a traditional farmstead. Within these parameters, soaring internal ceilings lift the sense of scale upward and out into the surrounding landscape, creating a uniquely secluded shelter from the elements within. Stretching seven metres in some cases, a custom glazed window was brought in from an international manufacturer to suit the conditions. In envisioning the home, Studio John Irving Architects wanted to ensure the spaces reflected the magnitude of the site, and by increasing the entire envelope from that which would be commonly proposed, this goal was more than achieved.

Nestled within a serene rural expanse, the objective of The Farmhouse was to create an ensemble of structures that evoke an interconnected sensibility whilst maintaining the charm and character expected of a traditional farmstead.

Wanting to create a home that resonated with a timeless appeal yet had a connection to the more rustic and rural cues found within similar positioned homesteads, that architects took inspiration from the open fields the home sits within. Being able to watch the changing seasons and the elements alter around the form ensured an animation from within, and the containing grey outer shell provides a protective outer layer between the occupants and the fluctuating environmental shifts.

The modesty of the form sits comfortably next to the open paddock space – reminiscent of a more traditional shed structure – yet the pitch of the gable has been risen ever so slightly to indicate a more bespoke interpretation. Seamlessly integrating the stable structures, the new home celebrates the love the owners have for their horses, sheep and farm animals. In its elemental approach, the palette is equally as restrained and plays on a simplicity that grounds the home in place. A mix of textural timber and the more robust metal sheeting in a weathered grey stain cloak the entire skin and bind each of the forms together across the site.

Wanting to create a home that resonated with a timeless appeal yet had a connection to the more rustic and rural cues found within similar positioned homesteads, that architects took inspiration from the open fields the home sits within.

The Farmhouse is comprised of a series of forms each interlocked in varying levels of connectivity based on function and allow a clear delineation of function and purpose across the site. The wrapping and shaping by Studio John Irving Architects in a consistent colour tones and geometry, however, hints at something more elevated at play.