The Farm House, Marrawah.
The Farm House, designed and built by My Build Collective is located on an isolated stretch of the rugged West Coast of Tasmania and sits atop a freshly cut subdivision that has been divided off from a prime producing cattle farm that spans back three generations of family farming history.
The site cleaves to an ancient sand dune formed thousands of years ago that overlooks the white sands of Green Point Beach. This home needed to respond to its harsh environment. After the initial site visit it was clear we needed to design a home that was robust and impenetrable. The surf along Green Point Beach hits relentlessly, powered by the roaring forties that sweep across the Indian Ocean. Our clients who resided in our nation’s capital of Canberra had only visited the site once before securing the land during a holiday in the state and had not fully experienced all the fury of the “Lazy” westerly winds or the “It will send you crazy” easterly winds, as well as horizontal rain and sand storms.
Solid Masonry Brick was chosen for the exterior cladding as it’s able to withstand severe weather conditions that the West Coast will throw at it. A gable in the centre of the home has been elegantly clad in Monument Colorbond “Nailstrip” that extends the full height. The gable was chosen to give a sense of appreciation to the history and replicate the farm house-form. The gable is neatly bookended by the white brick pavilions either side. Careful selection of products was to be considered with the prevailing weather conditions and Nod to the local heritage. Within the nail strip clad gabled roof lies concealed stainless steel gutters that provide a means of harnessing water and reducing the risk of loose and noisy fixtures. The untreated cypress pine cladding above the windows of the guest wing and garage softens the feel of masonry and will age gracefully, adding a sense of heritage and connection to existing barns in the area. Positioning the garage as such to provide further protection for the owners to escape the winds but enjoy their environment. The inclusion of a double garage perfectly creates an outdoor entertainment area that enables the homes owners to escape from the driving winds, but still be able to soak up the sun.
Additional features of the home:
• 2.4m high windows in the master wing to capture the sun
• Concrete slab harnesses the heat from the sun (great thermal mass)
• The Internal bricks were chosen for their direct similarity to the rock formations located near the home
• A window seat for those days you cannot sit outside and read a book • The gable window is a single commercial framed window
• Custom joinery in every room
• Full height cavity sliding doors to master and guest bedrooms that open up and provide an unrestricted feel
• A line-of-sight to the view from nearly every room
• The deep Japanese bath and shower with carefully placed windows for view and privacy
