Houzz Tour: An Updated Farmhouse in Touch With its Surroundings
This Australian farmhouse received a generous extension that provides uninhibited views for its retired owners
Like many of the homes built in the late 1960s, this Australian farmhouse was a simple, single-storey brick veneer bungalow that was ordinary in every way. Far from taking in the glorious valley views, this low-set L-shaped home hunkered close to the ground and was designed in such a way that the living areas were cold and the views blocked off. The owners, a retired couple, wanted to enjoy their glorious location with new living areas that were more in touch with the surroundings. They called on architect Noxon Giffen to design them an extension that wasn’t showy, but would allow them to live the quiet life in complete comfort, and accommodate their large extended family when they visited.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A retired couple with visiting extended family
Location Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, about 1.5 hours from Melbourne, Australia
Project Single-storey 360-square-metre extension to original 1960s brick veneer bungalow
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A retired couple with visiting extended family
Location Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, about 1.5 hours from Melbourne, Australia
Project Single-storey 360-square-metre extension to original 1960s brick veneer bungalow
Justin’s brief was to design an extension that would house a new living, dining and kitchen area, as well as a separate pool and garage facilities.
The bedrooms and support spaces are located in the original dwelling, while the living spaces are in the addition. Cathedral ceilings and an open-plan design give the extension a light, open feel – quite a difference from the original home’s low-set ceilings and closed-off rooms.
Justin says he’s proud to have ‘enriched the owners lifestyles in a low-key manner and exceeded their expectations.’
Colombus sofa, King Furniture. Artemide Tolomeo lamp, Lighting55. Fireplace, Mezzofocus.
The bedrooms and support spaces are located in the original dwelling, while the living spaces are in the addition. Cathedral ceilings and an open-plan design give the extension a light, open feel – quite a difference from the original home’s low-set ceilings and closed-off rooms.
Justin says he’s proud to have ‘enriched the owners lifestyles in a low-key manner and exceeded their expectations.’
Colombus sofa, King Furniture. Artemide Tolomeo lamp, Lighting55. Fireplace, Mezzofocus.
The stained Victorian ash floorboards continue from the original home into the extension to tie the old and the new together.
Ingo Maurer Zettel’z 5 light, Space Furniture. Wall paint in ‘Natural White’, Dulux.
Ingo Maurer Zettel’z 5 light, Space Furniture. Wall paint in ‘Natural White’, Dulux.
Cooker, AGA. Integrated fridge, Liebherr. Worktop, Corian.
A butler’s pantry behind the main kitchen provides plenty of extra storage and worktop space for food preparation.
See stylish pantries for the 21st century
See stylish pantries for the 21st century
Justin designed the extension to connect with the outdoors. The detailing and materials are deliberately restrained to ensure the colours and textures of the ever-changing landscape dominate the interiors.
‘A single floating fireplace element provides focus to the living spaces while the kitchen/pantry pods add further spatial definition,’ he says.
The Mezzofocus fireplace has been given pride of place on a custom-built concrete base.
‘A single floating fireplace element provides focus to the living spaces while the kitchen/pantry pods add further spatial definition,’ he says.
The Mezzofocus fireplace has been given pride of place on a custom-built concrete base.
‘The owners love how the extension connects them to the landscape and all the different aspects of their site via intimate domestic courtyards and ponds to long-distance vistas over paddocks and farmland,’ Justin says.
April dining table, Zuster. Eames dining chairs, Living Edge. Armchair, Featherston.
April dining table, Zuster. Eames dining chairs, Living Edge. Armchair, Featherston.
A covered walkway runs alongside the pool house, which is set perpendicular to the new extension.
The extension replaces a previous attempt at extending the house – an addition that included a studio, guest bedroom and pool. The new extension is a long, singular living space that stretches into the landscape. A pool house replaces the old pool and garage.
The extension replaces a previous attempt at extending the house – an addition that included a studio, guest bedroom and pool. The new extension is a long, singular living space that stretches into the landscape. A pool house replaces the old pool and garage.
The biggest challenge of the project for Justin was figuring out how to make the best of the landscape and environmental aspects while also protecting the home from ever-present peninsula winds and weather.
‘And also tying the new work into the original house in a subtle and low-key manner to produce a cohesive and integrated ‘whole’,’ Justin says.
Roof, Woodland Grey from Colorbond.
‘And also tying the new work into the original house in a subtle and low-key manner to produce a cohesive and integrated ‘whole’,’ Justin says.
Roof, Woodland Grey from Colorbond.
The water feature is quiet and calm, much like the rest of the house and surrounding countryside.
Bronze sculpture, Douglas Stephen.
Bronze sculpture, Douglas Stephen.
Sustainable design initiatives were an essential part of the brief. Climate control is achieved through high-performance double glazing and heavy ceiling, roof and floor insulation. The narrow single-volume floor plate provides excellent cross ventilation, and rainwater is collected on site via two 50,000-litre underground water tanks. All waste is treated on site. Lighting is low-energy compact fluorescent and LED.
All new spaces take advantage of warm winter sun streaming in through north-facing windows, and receive an abundance of controlled natural light when desired via automated window blinds.
All new spaces take advantage of warm winter sun streaming in through north-facing windows, and receive an abundance of controlled natural light when desired via automated window blinds.
The new pool and garage pavilions stretch out over the site and are interconnected via courtyards and pergolas, offering both protection from the elements and revealing new views beyond.
‘The new works are a collection of long and low buildings in the tradition of expansive single-level rural buildings,’ says Justin.
Both pool and garage buildings adopt basic construction methods of economical steel portal frames with fibreglass sheet cladding, an abstract reference to the adjacent existing farm shed construction.
‘The buildings are filled with natural daylight, transforming into glowing garden lanterns at night,’ Justin says. Yet the fibreglass cladding ensures no one can see in from the outside.
The homeowners are low-key – Justin says they didn’t want a pool that looked like it belonged in a resort. But both husband and wife swim daily, so the pool gets plenty of use. The corrugated fibreglass walls provide shelter from the wind and allow in plenty of natural light.
Be inspired by sensational swimming pools
‘The new works are a collection of long and low buildings in the tradition of expansive single-level rural buildings,’ says Justin.
Both pool and garage buildings adopt basic construction methods of economical steel portal frames with fibreglass sheet cladding, an abstract reference to the adjacent existing farm shed construction.
‘The buildings are filled with natural daylight, transforming into glowing garden lanterns at night,’ Justin says. Yet the fibreglass cladding ensures no one can see in from the outside.
The homeowners are low-key – Justin says they didn’t want a pool that looked like it belonged in a resort. But both husband and wife swim daily, so the pool gets plenty of use. The corrugated fibreglass walls provide shelter from the wind and allow in plenty of natural light.
Be inspired by sensational swimming pools
There are a variety of outdoor seating areas for the couple and their guests. The weather can change quickly here, so it helps to have options. Justin describes the views from the house as being like ‘moving wallpaper.’ Now that the home is slightly elevated and the living areas face the valley, the outlook has been transformed. The owners describe the home’s new relationship with the landscape as a ‘total, delightful surprise.’
A simple internal steel portal frame structure is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling smooth and seamless double glazing, with the pavilion ‘delicately hovering over the site.’
‘The new house wing adopts a similar pitched roof cross-section to the original for continuity and cohesion,’ Justin says. ‘However, unlike the original solid brick walls, the new walls are light and open, thus offering strong visual connection with the site.’
The low, flat ceilings of the original dwelling become open cathedral ceilings in an elemental and simple expression of shelter, he says.
The low, flat ceilings of the original dwelling become open cathedral ceilings in an elemental and simple expression of shelter, he says.
‘The new works eschew an architecture of dominance and excess,’ Justin says. ‘Rather, the project offers a subtle and delicate engagement with the natural elements through spatial transitions and a dynamic play of light and reflections, which capture the many and varied moods of the site.’
TELL US…
What do you think of this extension? Share your thoughts and impressions in the Comments below.
What do you think of this extension? Share your thoughts and impressions in the Comments below.
The existing home had a north-south orientation, but its living areas were located facing south – a chilly proposition in this part of Victoria during winter. Three bedrooms, a study, main bathroom and laundry were accessed via a long hallway, and a studio, cabin and guest room had been hastily added to the east – a move that screened the valley from view. The home also had a patio, pool and double garage.