An off-grid rebuild for a couple nearing retirement.

After loosing their home to the 2019 bushfires - with only the chimney stacks, two garden sheds and a rainwater tank remaining, the owners of this property spent nearly two years clearing dead trees and preparing their land for a rebuild.

In doing so, they immersed themselves in the landscape and studied the sun position, wind patterns and views in order to reposition their home to best utilise the sites conditions.

A steeply sloping site with sweeping views down into the Wollangambe Canyon, the house is embedded into the rock.

The floor plan is simple, compact and rectangular. It includes a master bedroom, study and yoga space for the owners. Passive design including careful orientation, cross ventilation, selection of sustainable materials and use of thermal mass have been employed.

Rock from on site will be used to clad the basement, line the winding driveway up the hill and fill structural gabion baskets.