Pure geometry

Rural homes invariably have a strong connection to the land and this house is no exception. Located on a plateau, the sloping topography of the site allows sweeping views over pastures and fields to distant mountains.

Architect Stuart Silk says these views, along with the summer sun angles and prevailing winds, determined the layout of the house.

"The plan's geometry was generated by the intersection of two of these important axes," he says. "This meeting point, which became the entrance to the house, is highlighted by an 18ft-high, glass-covered, circular concrete drum that expresses the rotational aspect of the intersection."

The circular entrance contrasts the lineal, gabled forms of the rest of the house, the shape of which was also determined by the connection with the land. Silk says that while the owner wanted a contemporary home, it was important that the design acknowledged the traditional architecture of the region.

"We visualized a home that was mindful of its rural agrarian surroundings there are many historical stone farmhouses and barns that date back to the turn of the last century. Some of these traditional buildings are quite close to the site. We wanted to capture that sensibility, but within a contemporary framework."

The solution was to incorporate similar materials within a collection of traditional gabled forms, linked by glass bridges.

"Stone gables stripped of all unnecessary detail provide this home with its strong visual identity," says Silk. "The flat-roofed glass bridges are transitional connecting spaces that create a sharp contrast, enabling the two elements to play off each other. As we developed the design, it became more and more about pure geometry and the creation of an art form than the layering of traditional details. We felt this pared-back treatment was a more powerful way to evoke the rural aesthetic, rather than simply mimicking tradition."

Reducing the house to its simplest form also brings a very contemporary edge to the interior. The entrance drum, while filled with light from the overhead glazing, has a spartan feel, reminiscent of a castle. The adjacent dining room has a similar ambiance further enhanced by the acid-stained concrete flooring laid to resemble large flagstones, and the solid stone walls.

"We have brought the stone through to the inside of the building where it creates a simple, strong and tactile backdrop to the furnishings."

The color of the stone helped determine the color palette of the interior. Designer Jennifer Randall says the dark gray, beige and taupe tones of the walls and furnishings evoke an earthy feel. The simple styling of the furniture also reinforces the sleek, uncluttered look.

"It's a quiet backdrop that doesn't interfere with the magnificent views," Randall says. "Darker colors help to anchor the space and focus attention on the view, rather than the interior. For this reason, we have extended the colors to the ceilings in the main living areas."

Corner windows also help expand the views, opening up the interior to the great outdoors.

The main living areas feature simple, painted wood ceilings that follow the gabled forms. An absence of moldings and base boards, and the introduction of pre-cast concrete fire surrounds, further reinforces the contemporary feel of the interior.

"The concrete conveys the sense of a more traditional hearth the place where the cooking would have been undertaken in years gone by," says Silk. "For this reason, we have also used pre-cast concrete to surround the cooking center in the kitchen, which is at one end of the family room."

To provide shelter from the prevailing winds, Silk created a trellised courtyard between the family and living rooms. This creates a protected space for outdoor living for three seasons of the year.

Below, a stone wall shields a large pool area and cabana from summer winds, while strategic openings allow focused views of the landscape and the mountains.

"We used the topography to create a terraced landscape, with pre-cast concrete walls enhancing the sense of a ruin. The grass is contoured so it meets the top of the walls," says Silk.

Story by: Trendsideas