The Homestead

- work in progress -

An excerpt from our comprehensive site analysis for this project, located in Wootton, on the NSW mid-north coast:

The topography was steeper than I had expected, though not so steep as to feel immobilised or restricted. The terrain gives the property a sense of drama and contrast, never fully revealing itself all in one go. It contains a variety of places with very different spatial conditions. Standing in a creek bed, the air is

cool, the views are close and the sounds are immediate; running water and bird calls. Surrounded by the stark and dramatically vertical flooded gums, you have a sense of intimacy, enclosure, and protection from the otherwise vast sky. Out of the creek bed and nestled into the side of a hill, you are protected at your back, and experience a specific set of views, light, temperature and breeze conditions. As you follow the contours around the hill to a new spot, these conditions transform into an entirely different set. The hilltops are often fully exposed and command panoramic views of the surrounding forests, paddocks and distant ranges, with dense tree canopies that hide what is beneath. These exposed ridges offer a fantastic prospect but lack a sense of refuge.

The clients had recently purchased a farm in Wootton to retire on. Here is an excerpt from our return brief:

You have chosen the area for its natural beauty and freedom, and wish to live in harmony with the environment, farming in a manner which takes care of the land, so it can take care of you. The house, therefore should be a nurturing place, which takes every opportunity to integrate with, and relish the beautiful landscape and create opportunities for enjoyment and connection. The japanese baths, fires, covered outdoor spaces and the habitat pool you mention are examples here. With this in mind, it needs to also fulfil the requirements of a permanent home, rather than a transient holiday house.