An ambitious country homestead, grounded in sustainability, sculpted for life on the land.

A vibrant yet gentle new addition to a historic rural homestead, Merriwa Farmhouse is a highly considered response to place, climate, and family life.

This project comprises a new building, entirely separate from the original house, accessed via a glazed bridge over a new swimming pool. This daily journey marks the transition from sleeping quarters to the living heart of the home. Designed for a farming family in the Upper Hunter region of New South Wales, the addition provides a robust yet refined sanctuary within a landscape defined by harsh summers, drought cycles, and sweeping rural views. Even the red dust that occasionally moves through the area was considered in the tone of the render finish, grounding the new building in its environment and reducing the visual impact of weathering over time.

The significance of the drought was extremely apparent during the design phase, inspiring the integration of a large glass downpipe that lets the family see and celebrate every precious drop of rain as it’s captured and collected for their daily needs.

The new addition draws on vernacular traditions from arid climates and is organised around a protected courtyard. This transitional outdoor space is naturally cooled by the pool, which becomes a central visual and spatial focus. It can be accessed from both the old and new wings of the house, and the experience of swimming beneath the glazed bridge reinforces a playful connection between the built form, water and landscape, giving the bridge a sense of lightness and the architecture a feeling of gently hovering in place.

The building is shaped by sustainability at every level for this essentially off-grid home. Passive solar principles informed the siting and orientation, with deep verandas providing shade in summer and large areas of north-facing glazing drawing in winter sunlight. A concrete slab delivers thermal mass, stabilising interior temperatures and reducing reliance on mechanical cooling. Operable windows and carefully positioned openings promote cross ventilation, while a double-sided fireplace and ceiling fans provide year-round thermal comfort with minimal energy use. The home is powered by solar photovoltaic panels, collects rainwater for all daily needs and utilises on-site waste processing facilities.

Natural, low-embodied-energy materials form the core of the building. Exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls and ceilings are celebrated for both their structural integrity and natural warmth. The curved Colorbond roof references nearby sheds and barns, while the internal lining of woven bamboo introduces texture and a personal memory of the client’s childhood home. Other materials include timber flooring, lime-rendered walls, glulam and rolled steel rafters, and hand-finished concrete. Each was selected for its durability, expressive quality, and connection to the surrounding landscape.

Set low and linearly on the site, the building reads as an extension of the existing homestead, sitting comfortably within the landscape. The mezzanine level offers a lifted perspective across the paddocks and hills, with views of livestock and the wide, open countryside. Large picture windows and dormers frame these views and create places of rest, quiet observation, and reconnection with the land. Designed to grow and adapt with the family, Merriwa Farmhouse presents a sustainable and enduring alternative to the generic rural home.

Client Testimonial, Merriwa Farmhouse:

“We chose Katherine as she was able to envisage our bespoke project and communicate it clearly… delivered the perfect project after listening to our needs and wants… she was calm, reliable and caring.

Our mezzanine encompasses a view that we didn’t realise how amazing it was until we were in the space, even after living on site for 10 years already. Katherine’s design brought our property into focus with light and space… the new space has had a massive positive impact on how our family spends time together.

Materials chosen were considered carefully and reflected our location beautifully. Katherine was always available to us with enormous amounts of empathy and skill. Concerns and challenges that popped up were dealt with smoothly and with great success.

Katherine is extremely professional. She asked questions clearly, which enabled us to communicate our needs in a way that reflects the beautiful space we now have.

Anyone who has entered the space cannot believe how beautiful it is… A lot of people comment they have never been in a space that works so well practically and looks and feels so lovely.

Visitors love the originality of the design and are constantly amazed. Katherine’s design encompassed our brief perfectly. She is a calm presence in what can be an extremely stressful pursuit. She listens at all stages and offers sage advice.

Katherine understands the difficulties of building bespoke - particularly in a setting such as ours (remote NSW) - and is able to manage all issues that arise whilst producing spaces that feel inviting and modern.

Our building requires no air-conditioning due to the materials and airflow. In a hot environment, this is outstanding. The kitchen has easily worked for entertaining over 100 people multiple times. The space provided flows beautifully. We have multiple spaces available that are connected seamlessly.”

Photography by Jessie Ann Harris