Client: Confidential
Size: 504m²
Location: Gippsland, VIC, AU
Status: Concept

Set in Gippsland, Eastern Victoria, this farm house designed by Gippsland architect Thextonsmith provided the clients with an opportunity to build a home to accommodate their exacting needs both now and into the future.

The clients requested a sense of permanence to the building, quality materials and a visual connection back to the surrounding farm.

As the clients have spent decades working on the land, our design team developed a response that respects the local environment and celebrates the landscape. The design features rammed earth walls which provide visual and tactile connection to the land, combined with a bunkered concept, which offers natural protection and enduring quality.

The farm house is nestled between earthen batters, sheltering the north-facing outdoor living area from south-westerly winds and providing privacy.

A flying roof is located to each of the front and back of the house, indicating key access points and living space, whilst also providing protection from the elements.

As the home is intended to take the clients through to retirement and beyond, it is designed to accommodate future works to enable the clients to live there for as long as possible, with features to support reduced mobility such as flush transitions at thresholds and wider-than-normal passages.

If you have a project in the Gippsland region and would like to chat to our Thextonsmith Gippsland Architect team, please contact us.

Client:Confidential
Size:450m²
Location:Sale, Gippsland, VIC, AU
Status:Design

Services:Architecture, Interior Architecture

A retired farming couple approached Gippsland architect Thextonsmith to design what they hope would be their retirement house on a 100 acre block in Gippsland.

The house was required to be flexible, allowing for future flexibility as the clients aged, whilst also allowing space for grand kids to stay and resale viability. This ment there was a substantial amount of consideration given to program and the layout, to best adopt the client’s requirements.

The client had firm ideas on a prominent central roof form, as well as preferred materials. These items were adopted alongside other key brief items and a feature roof was formed over the central living area, providing an opportunity for a cathedral ceiling internally, and the brick and timber claddings were adopted to varying degrees.

If you have a project in the Gippsland region and would like to chat to our Thextonsmith Gippsland Architect team, please contact us.

Client:Confidential
Size:400m²
Location:Loch Sport, Gippsland, VIC, AU
Status:Design

Services:Architecture, Interior Architecture

Set a block back from the shoreline of Lake Victoria, in Gippsland, designed by Gippsland architect Thextonsmith, is on a simple, level site this design takes advantage of all the site has to offer, and more.

Our brief was to design a flexible and robust home for a family of 5, whilst also having space to cater for additional family and friends over summer, and etch out a sea view if possible, all whilst on a firm budget.

With this in mind, thextonsmith responded by lifting the home on posts to the maximum height possible, whilst still allowing space for a roof top deck.  This kept the floor plate minimal, essentially being a single level house on stilts, whilst providing shade, cover and shelter below for cars, camping and covered outdoor entertaining adjacent the lawn area.

The living level obtains Lakeviews, whilst and the rooftop deck has uninterrupted Lake views.

The raised home consists of 5 bedrooms, living, dining, kitchen and family rooms, master ensuite and bathroom with separate powder room. The lower level consists of an entry lobby and garage/workshop.

If you have a project in the Gippsland region and would like to chat to our Thextonsmith Gippsland Architect team, please contact us.

Client:Confidential
Size:500m²
Location:Loch Sport, Gippsland, VIC, AU
Status:Design

Our Lake View house is set on a steep sloping site immediately adjacent the shoreline of Lake Victoria in Loch Sport, Gippsland.

Designed by Gippsland architect Thextonsmith, the project consists of a sprawling 3 level holiday home over levels 2, 3 and 4, with a ground level entry and extra height garage/boat garage capable of housing 6 cars, or 4 cars and a boat.

Level 1 consists of a separate residence with 2 bedrooms, living, dining and kitchen with large bathroom.

Due to the slope of the site, a lift connects ground level to levels 2 and 3 above.

With the primary views to the north west, the home looks out over the access road and native bush,  to the Lake beyond. Slatted timber screens were designed to protect and direct the views, whilst enabling operability for the occupants to block out the worst of the summer sun. A warm and simple palette was chosen of local Mt Angus sandstone, white vertical shiplap cladding and insitu concrete curved fins.

If you have a project in the Gippsland region and would like to chat to our Thextonsmith Gippsland Architect team, please contact us.

Client: Confidential
Size:1,000m²
Location:Ivanhoe, VIC, AU
Status:Design
Services:Architecture, Project Management

A new high-end home in Ivanhoe design by Melbourne architect Thextonsmith, this project was driven by the client’s clear brief for a French Provincial luxury home that sits grandly upon the site.

The site slopes steeply to laneway access to the rear of the site, which drove our initial response to this project. In keeping with the client’s wish to have a grand entry, we put garaging off the rear laneway, reserving the Marshall Street frontage for visitors and temporary parking.

Optimising the sloping site, garaged under-croft parking connects to the house via a games room opening to the north and south, a great hall, wine cellar and tasting room, accompanied by services rooms and a change room for the pool house.
Ground level houses a study and guest bedroom off the entry hall, storage and powder room. The kitchen, complete with butler’s pantry and breakfast nook, and the living and dining areas open out onto a large expanse of lawn, which is above the games room. Past the lawn is the pool house with a wet edge pool above the garage.

By raising the pool above the garage, the occupants look out over the laneway and neighbouring houses beyond, to the Yarra Ranges to the east.

Level 1 consists of a lobby, three bedrooms, bathroom, toilet, storage, library, retreat and master suite with bedroom, walk in robe and ensuite.

The three levels are connected via a lift and feature stairs with a void, where a spectacular hanging pendant light creates drama and a sense of elegance.

If you have a project in the Melbourne region and would like to chat to our Thextonsmith Melbourne Architect team, please contact us.

Client:Confidential
Size:445m²
Location:Sale, Gippsland, VIC, AU
Status:Design
Services:Architecture, Interior Architecture, Project Management, Superintendency

Located on a lifestyle block on the outskirts of Sale, in Gippsland, this modern farm house was designed by Gippsland architect Thextonsmith as a shed-like pavilion structure, taking its inspiration from the farm sheds in the surrounding countryside.

The building is positioned on a slight slope, and shelters its occupants from the nearby road and predominant southern wind by presenting a solid natural stone wall to the road with highlight windows above and an easily identified entry. This opens the living areas up to the north/north east to provide an abundance of natural light through both summer and winter.

The resulting envelope houses 5 bedrooms with a double garage, home office, gym and abundant indoor and outdoor living areas, perfect for a large family. The outdoor living areas open onto a large expanse of lawn, and a pavilion near a natural pond that also doubles as a swimming pool.

If you have a project in the Gippsland region and would like to chat to our Thextonsmith Gippsland Architect team, please contact us.

Client: Confidential
Size: 480m2
Location: Melbourne, VIC, AU
Status: Design
Services: Architecture, Interior Architecture, Project Management, Superintendency

A three-level private residence with rooftop living in Melbourne’s central northern suburbs, design by Melbourne architect Thextonsmith, this project provides basement carparking, service and workshop area and multifunction office/gym and cinema spaces. Ground level features the kitchen, dining and two living spaces, a central courtyard, a guest bedroom with ensuite, a second bedroom, plus laundry. Level 1 consists of two further bedrooms, a shared family bathroom, a living area and master suite with walk-in robe and ensuite. The rooftop has a green roof, terrace for entertaining and lap pool overlooking the garden.

The terraced landscaping grounds the building and alludes to the Ziggurat structures of South America, while seamlessly integrating with the elegant contemporary structure. Ample planting softens the strong structure and creates a loose feeling of ruins. The overall effect is that of a modern landmark, referencing both past and future.

This multi-generational family home is also planned to be sustainable and self-sufficient.

If you have a project in the Melbourne region and would like to chat to our Thextonsmith Melbourne Architect team, please contact us.