Crackenback House

Thredbo, NSW

2020

The brief was to design a practical, working farmhouse, simple in form with simple materials of corrugated steel, rusted steel and concrete: all inexpensive yet beautifully detailed and executed.

It would be the latest of three modern farm buildings on the property, including the stables, managers quarters and a machinery shed, all designed by Casey Brown. One of the challenges was to address its relationship to the previously constructed 2016 AIA award winning Crackenback stables and shed. By way of building farm structures, it is highly unusual that the main home is built last. Therefore, it had to have a familiar relationship to the other buildings yet have a more prominent presence in the landscape.

This project is unique as the client was the builder, John Fielding of Bellevarde Constructions. Bellevarde Constructions and Casey Brown have designed and built over 15 homes together. This contemporary residence is the culmination of a lifetime of work in building and construction for John and a home to call his own.

The rustic exterior conceals a modern concrete interior – a detailed, rich material palette of polished concrete, tallowwood ceilings, and black metal. The interior finishes are raw and robust, with steel and concrete being the primary materials. In the living areas, timber joinery adds a sense of refinement and warmth to the spaces. Caroline reflects, “we wanted it to have a masculine toughness to the home, but the tallowwood and pops of colour softened this, warming and unifying the space. The three skylights add some vibrance and humour to the home – we didn't want it to feel austere or too serious.”

Project Architects: Carly Martin & Caroline Kite

Builder: Bellevarde

Engineer: Ken Murtagh

Photography: Michael Nicholsen

Awards

2022 Grand designs house of the Year Peoples Choice

HIA Best Country Home in NSW