Rose Street

On a small block of land in Bowral, a retired couple required a home that was close to town and easy to maintain.

The owner being a retired engineer designed the house modelled on the French “Mas” (a simple and traditional farmhouse of Provence).

The land imposed challenges with the design and construction due to geotechnical limitations, slope, site access, and land shape. Out of the 860m2 block, only 250m2 was buildable, and this was only achieved by building retaining walls at the front and rear of the block to create a plateau within which the house and courtyards could be terraced and nestled into the site. These retaining walls are structurally independent from the house and have a dual function of forming courtyard walls, which enclose sheltered level outdoor areas, physically accessible from all parts of the house.

Features of this house include: Terracotta tiles throughout, exposed recycled bridge timbers, custom made working timber shutters, built in cabinetry, solar hot water system, and hydronic heating.

The aim was to create a comfortable homely atmosphere with a timeless rustic appearance.