In Harmony – Winter Creek by SOS Architects and Studio Tom

In a nuanced response to landscape, Winter Creek becomes a seamless reflection of the expansive farm in which the home resides. SOS Architects draws on modernist design principles combined with a subdued interior design approach by Studio Tom to create a residence that is clean, modern and considered so that it doesn’t compete with the site but, instead, harmonises with it.

Located on an incredible site in Trentham, an hour and a half north-west of Melbourne, Winter Creek is a single-storey, contemporary home that nestles into the site. Set in a region previously known for potato cultivation, the working farm was purchased by the owners and transformed into a functioning truffle and South Devon cattle stud farm. Given its context, SOS Architects deeply considered the appropriate placement of the house to ensure it both complemented and responded to the site.

Given its context, SOS Architects deeply considered the appropriate placement of the house to ensure it both complemented and responded to the site.

The architectural approach was grounded in a contemporary, sleek design. The form of Winter Creek consists of two distinct volumes – a floating roof that connects to the landscape, which encompasses the main living zones and is quite expansive, and the ‘flat box’ section that is more private and introspective, housing the bedrooms and bathrooms. A key feature of the design is also the transparency of the home. At many intersections, one can see through the house, further connecting the dwelling to the landscape from within.

The interior design approach was very much an extension of the architectural design, with Studio Tom collaborating with SOS Architects to create a modern home that feels seamless and cohesive with the surrounds. The palette is subdued, dominated by charcoal, neutral and grey tones, and furnishings are minimalist and refined. These choices mean the interior continues the theme of blending into the misty, grey, wintery scenes typical of the landscape beyond the walls.

The interior design approach was very much an extension of the architectural design, with Studio Tom collaborating with SOS Architects to create a modern home that feels seamless and cohesive with the surrounds.

Continuing the seamless aesthetic that defines the house, the AbsoluteMatte range from Laminex was used throughout the interior. The versatile nature of the product allowed it to be used for the joinery, wall panelling and door skins. The mood created by the matte finish becomes palpable with the way the light bounces off its surface. This sense of harmony offers a poetic response to the vernacular of the outskirts of Wombat State Forest, where the residence is located.

An inspiring collaboration, SOS Architects and Studio Tom bring the clients’ vision to life with an attention to detail and harmony that becomes tangible as you walk through the dwelling. By creating the home that co-exists with the surrounds, there is a feeling that immediately envelops all those who enter – one that is awe-inspiring and calm.