Raising the barn

Designed by Mark Gacesa, Ultraspace

From the designer:

The setting

This project involves the renovation, extension, and reimagining of a small cottage on a rural acreage in the Brisbane hinterland. 

The site is defined by rolling hills, expansive views, and a herd of Highland cattle, all of which informed the design response. 

The dwelling serves as a guest house and primary entertaining space for the owner's adjoining weekender retreat.

Design intent

The intent was to transform the modest cottage into a refined guest retreat that enhances its rural setting. 

The design draws on a contemporary interpretation of an American barn, expressed through bold rooflines, a strong structural rhythm, and a refined yet rustic character.

Key priorities included seamless indoor–outdoor living and cooking facilities for entertaining, elevated views, generous communal spaces, guest privacy, and amenities that support both entertaining and a retreat. 

Durability and low-maintenance materials were essential to achieving a long-lasting, high-quality outcome.

Kitchen design – goals, objectives & solutions

• The kitchen is conceived as the heart of a broader 'Kitchen Zone', integrating the main kitchen, walk-in pantry, dining area, exposed laundry, and surrounding outdoor entertaining spaces – the objective was to unify these functions into a cohesive and immersive environment while maintaining a relaxed contemporary barn aesthetic.
• Within the open-plan layout, structure and decoration are intentionally intertwined, with finishes contributing to the architectural language and structural elements becoming key design features – this approach allows the entire zone to read as one continuous, highly resolved space.
• Functionality is carefully resolved through a fully equipped walk-in pantry featuring wine refrigeration, a commercial ice machine, a second dishwasher, and generous storage – additional storage is concealed behind timber-panelled walls, which also integrate mechanical services to maintain visual clarity.
• The material palette reflects a robust rural language of stone, timber, steel, mesh, and oxidised finishes, selected for both aesthetic and performance – porcelain surfaces replicate stone and timber for durability, engineered timber minimises movement, and commercial-grade wall vinyl emulating finishes such as leather, providing texture along with longevity.
• Above the kitchen, illuminated sweeping voids introduce vertical drama, framing a suspended walkway that connects to guest suites, a three-storey glass lift and an external tube slide that travels around the lift entering back at the kitchen – the tube slide adding both visual interest and a sense of experience to the space.

• Lighting is central to the design, transitioning from practical task lighting to layered ambient and feature lighting that supports a range of entertaining modes through home automation.
• The laundry is intentionally expressed as part of the space, with full-slab porcelain surfaces reinforcing continuity and elevating its presence.
• The feature laundry becomes a part of the environment rather than hidden away from the household – the bench design uses a full slab version of the same oversized 1200 x 1200mm slate Italian porcelain floor tiles.
• The see-through Austrian weave cane seen in the arched screens that divide the laundry from the banquette seating and dining opposite the kitchen is repeated throughout the retreat – this is also backlit in the kitchen cabinetry, used in much of the furniture and extensively in the bathrooms and bedrooms, thus being incorporated into each suite.
• The dining area also features a contemporary and extremely robust version of a traditional live-edge dining table that you might expect to see on a farm – the surface is an oak timber grain compact laminate designed with a ‘live edge’ and capped with antique brass and custom buttons.

• A strong connection to the landscape is achieved through multiple elevated decks extending from the kitchen – the northern deck incorporates a timber stick-inspired sunscreen structure, illuminated gardens, and lounge zones, while the southern deck is oriented for stargazing with uninterrupted views toward Brisbane city – in addition, an eastern deck captures dam views and soft natural light – these outdoor areas expand the kitchen’s role as an entertaining hub.
• The outdoor entertaining kitchen is seamlessly integrated with the main kitchen, forming part of a total of three kitchens within the residence – finishes flow consistently between spaces, reinforcing cohesion – this external kitchen is fully equipped for large-scale entertaining, featuring dual Italian gas barbecues with concealed extract systems, double commercial-grade drinks refrigeration, a commercial ice machine, and a full surround entertainment system – the area can be completely enclosed with automated clear roller shutters, allowing for year-round use.

Conclusion

This project redefines the potential of a modest rural cottage by transforming it into a cohesive and highly considered guest retreat. 

Through the integration of architecture, interior design, and landscape, the kitchen emerges as the heart of the home – both functionally and experientially. 

The design successfully balances robustness with refinement, delivering a space that is durable, immersive, and deeply connected to its setting.

 Ultimately, it offers a contemporary interpretation of rural luxury that enhances both everyday living and the broader retreat experience.

Story by: Trendsideas