Happy Valley

The conversation between Folk Architects and this Yarra Valley family began with a proposal to renovate their remote bushland home near Healesville in Victoria. But it was the evolving needs of the family and the way they wanted to live that acted as the true catalyst for a rethink.

The environmental consultant and his partner, who works in the wine industry, had been dreaming of a sustainable home where they could raise three young children in a natural setting, with room for an orchard, a large vegetable patch and space to run their cows, sheep and chooks.

However, after talking with the co-directors of Folk Architects, Christie Petsinis and Tim Wilson, it was clear they’d outgrown their existing home and it was time to move on.

Tim recalls, “It was exciting. We all went out together, drove through paddocks assessing them, paced one out and thought about the views and where the doors would go. The couple had a strong idea about where they wanted to live and what was important to them. They’re from a farming background, and very into the idea of living off the grid.”

The question was if their dream was achievable on a modest budget. That was the challenge for Christie and Tim who established Folk Architects in 2011, after considerable experience working elsewhere.

This house held special significance, being their first new residential build and a good fit with Folk’s ethos: To create places that engage with people, and leave a positive legacy.

Folk took to heart the idea expressed by philosopher Juhani Palasmaa – that architects need to stand in the shoes of their client and look to the future. “We really try to engage people in the briefing process and not restrict ourselves by imposing too many ideas at the beginning. The result is usually the creation of something that is distinctive to that place,” Christie says.

Folk and their clients deliberately situated the house to be below the high point of the property. “We wanted it to be subservient to the landscape and as understated as we could make it, which is reflective of the personalities of the owners as well,” Christie says.

The solution is simple and elegant; two discrete volumes separate into a living wing and a sleeping wing, connected by a walkway that frames views of surrounding hills as you enter the living area.

The private sleeping quarters contain a music and reading room with smaller framed views of the Yarra Ranges. Large sliding timber doors at either end of the walkway divide the two zones and attenuate sound between the separate parts of the house – a real benefit for a growing family. “It works well thermally too, as areas within the house can be zoned,” Christie says.

Fireplaces warm the hands and the hearth, but an open fireplace was out of the question due to inefficient heat production. Instead the architects opted for a French-designed Cheminée Philippe in the heart of the living area. “The firebox is an efficient heater as it radiates a lot of heat and is very slow burning,” Tim explains.

Meanwhile, embodied energy from the concrete slab radiates warmth during the evening. “They are walking around the house in t-shirts, in the valley, during the winter. That’s pretty amazing,” Christie says.

Adding to the beauty and emotional tone, the interior is wrapped in Victorian ash, while some plasterboard was used to keep costs down. The house is cooled through cross ventilation, and the eaves are designed to eliminate heat in summer while allowing in the winter sun.

The family had a strong affinity with the site from the outset. While the house was being built, they camped on the grounds in a little shed, and began planting the veggie patch and an orchard.

Today they also grow grapes for winemaking, keep bees, and have sheep and chooks roaming free-range around the house. “A sheep tried to follow us inside for the photo shoot,” Christie laughs.

The owners’ experience with the builders was thoroughly enjoyable. They were able to problem-solve and deliver high quality advice and support, as well as having an excellent understanding of the intricacies of the project.

Christie and Tim still visit Yarra Valley House and chat to the owners about how the property is working for them. The passionate architects are sensitive to the small but telling details, such as how the house is wearing the passage of time. You can see it in the patina of the exterior timbers fading in response to the daily arc of the sun – evidence of time passing, adding another layer of story to this modest and beautiful home.

“It should be an aspiration for the industry that architects be more accessible. We like the idea that this project is not ridiculously expensive,” architect Tim Wilson says.

And Christie adds: “That’s why we called ourselves Folk, because we’re designing for people.”