Jury citation
Merricks Farmhouse offers a different take on the rural shed vernacular. It may share its concrete-block walls and metal roof with the cow sheds down the road … but that’s where it ends. Nestling into the slope, the house’s long, low glazing is almost invisible beneath the deep eaves. Extending out into the garden, the concrete walls topped in succulents are reminiscent of a moss-covered ruin.
The entry sequence takes you into a large, sheltered courtyard, but rather than a rectangle of manicured garden, you find a pond with giant stepping stones leading you through superb native plantings. The surrounding rooms all take great advantage of this supremely calm space: four beautifully modest bedrooms at the rear, the main bedroom suite on the “view side” of the house, a sunken lounge, and a kitchen and dining area that also enjoy the benefit of the courtyard dining area. Here, the black timber ceilings soar to concealed skylights before dropping down to the hall/bedroom height, where the view is intensely compressed.
The pool – a partially sunken concrete water tank – is a beautiful spot to cool off in summer. The landscaping flows in and out, blurring the boundaries at every turn.
Merricks Farmhouse is located on Merricks, Victoria, on Boonwurrung Country and was reviewed by Cameron Bruhn in Houses 151.
Project credits
Architect: Michael Lumby with Nielsen Jenkins; Project team: Lachlan Nielsen, Michael Lumby, Morgan Jenkins; Builder: Atma Builders; Structural engineer: Westera Partners, Perrett Simpson.
