Canowindra House
Canowindra House
New Build
Renovation · Built
The rural landscape provides the starting point for the architecture. Established trees, open outlooks and long sunset views shape the home’s orientation.
Careful consideration of solar access, shade and cooling breezes allows it to sit naturally within the land and respond to the changing conditions throughout the day.
Set within open country and surrounded by bushland, this modest home embraces the quiet rhythms of rural life.
Designed for a quick, straightforward build, robust brickwork grounds the house in its setting, while generous connections to outdoor living bring changing light, distant views - and the occasional cow, iinto everyday life.
01 / THE BRIEF
Client: Private Location: Suburb, NSW Project Type: New Build Status: Built Scope: Architecture + Interior Design
The brief was to create a modest, comfortable country home that could be built quickly and sit naturally within its bushland setting.
Designed for friends, the house needed generous shared spaces for cooking and gathering, quieter areas for retreat, and an easy connection to outdoor living, open views and the rhythms of the surrounding landscape.
A simple plan, robust brickwork and passive design principles shape a practical, grounded home suited to rural conditions.
Orientation, shade and natural ventilation support everyday comfort, while straightforward materials and construction respond to the ambition for a more self-sufficient way of living.
02 / EXISTING + CONCEPT
The concept began with a compact, uncomplicated home grounded in its rural setting.
Oriented towards distant views and the setting sun, the design uses natural ventilation, tactile materials and changing light to create a calm, comfortable atmosphere.
A generous kitchen, living and dining space forms the social heart of the plan, with bedrooms arranged on either side to balance gathering and retreat.
This simple organisation keeps everyday life centred on cooking, conversation and connection—to one another and to the surrounding landscape.
EXISTING & CONCEPT
SITE VIEW
03 / Design & Plans
The plan and project imagery explore the relationship between a welcoming central living space, quieter bedroom areas and a sheltered outdoor terrace. Together, they describe a home shaped around gathering, retreat and connection to the land.
Spatial sequence: Bedrooms sit near the entry, services are grouped in the middle, and the kitchen, dining and living areas open toward the rear.
Site response: A continuous route connects the rooms, while the living area extends through the alfresco space to the garden.
The attic provides additional space, with parking at the far end of the site.
Natural light: The triangular window follows the roofline, drawing daylight deep into the open-plan living area.
Its elevated position brings light into the center of the home while maintaining privacy from neighboring terraces.
04 / MATERIAL PALETTE
A restrained palette of stone, brick and metal roofing gives the home a robust yet understated presence.
The weight and texture of the masonry ground the simple roof form within the rural landscape, while warm mineral tones reflect the surrounding earth, rocks and vegetation.
Chosen for their durability and natural character, the materials will weather gracefully and deepen the home’s connection to its setting over time.
05 / THE HOME
A low, single-storey form and simple gabled roof give Bushland House a familiar rural character.
The main living spaces extend towards a covered terrace, strengthening the connection between the home and its surroundings.
Four ideas guide the design:
Belonging to the landscape
A modest form and earthy palette respond to the colours and textures of the setting.
Comfort through passive design
Orientation, shade and natural ventilation guide the approach to everyday comfort.
A shared heart, with space to retreat
The central kitchen and living area bring people together, while separated bedroom zones offer privacy for residents and guests.
Simplicity for rural living
Straightforward planning and robust materials support a practical home, shaped by the ambition for greater self-sufficiency.
06 / BEHIND THE PROJECT
Developed in close collaboration with the client, consultants and builder, this project grew from a personal conversation with friends about how they wanted to live—simply, comfortably and close to nature.
Together, the team focused on creating a healthier, more beautiful home grounded in the character of its rural setting.
These aspirations were translated into a clear, thoughtful plan, where the kitchen anchors daily life and the landscape remains a constant presence.
Bushland House reflects our interest in modest homes that offer lasting value through careful planning, collaboration and a strong sense of place.
Let’s create a home that feels like you.
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