Hunter Valley House

The project begins with ground, climate and view.

Hunter Valley rural context.

Form follows the pressures of context and use.

The Hunter Valley House began with the owners' wish for 'an interesting roof' and the desire to see the Barrington Tops mountain range from a second-storey office. The architecture resolves the transition from one storey to two, passive solar design, water collection and the whole building program in a single gesture — lowered in scale, protecting from the south, opening to the north and shutting down to the west in one form.

Practically, the roof is a rectangle pushed in at the ends so that it pops up in the middle — still a two-dimensional plane, buildable with traditional rafters, battens and corrugated sheeting. The walls curve in plan, pulling the west end of the house toward the north-east sun and views; set heights along the north and south facades allowed the builder to pitch rafters and let the form result.

The house steps down its site in long section, creating a split level beneath the floating roof that minimises earthworks and maximises northern light; the upper level runs out to the north at kitchen-bench height, establishing terraces at both levels. The work draws consciously on the organic tradition and the 'plastic integrity' of post-war modernism — dynamic interior space and passive solar performance achieved simultaneously.

The rammed earth is sourced locally to reflect the region's unique geology and, together with recycled and state-forest NSW hardwoods, keeps embodied energy close to 0.5 MJ/kg. The house collects its own water and makes its own electricity; orientation means little added heating, and a 600 mm thermal-mass spine wall steadies temperature through summer and winter.