Architect designed to perfectly utilise the ideal north facing rural site, this is the benchmark for contemporary country home design. Positioned to catch vast views and crafted to capture sun in the winter in serene wind-free spaces. This three-bedroom, two-bathroom home from architect, Jim Commadeur, offers an innovative solar-passive design while retaining an exceptional sense of place expressed in a feature-wall of bluestone reworked from the site and interior timber-panelling recycled from the property’s original dwelling all clad in local radial sawn Silvertop Ash and wrapped by ‘arms’ of corten-steel – rising from rich red soil and a perimeter of native planting.

Designed to adapt to changing lifestyles with a deceptively simple single-level design, the home places the timber-wrapped master in a private domain, zones secondary bedrooms to give kids, grandkids and guests their own space, and provides light-filled central living for a seamless view across pergola-shaded decking, to manicured lawns, to the rural landscape beyond.

Combining sophisticated interior design with the needs of solar passive design, the home is grounded by the thermal mass of polished-concrete floors, lit by walls of premium double-glazing, and sheltered by quality window-furnishings including airy sheers. With pure white stone benchtops wrapping the prestige appliance kitchen and a fully-tiled bespoke bathroom and ensuite finished with natural stone and timber vanities, the home features custom cabinetry including robes and window-seating, and designer lighting including brilliant pendants.

Climate-controlled by reverse-cycle air-conditioning with a warming woodfire set in a bluestone surround, the home’s energy efficiencies extend to solar-hot water and 20,000L water-storage, while flyscreens encourage an open air flow. Wrapped by approx 9,632sqms of exotic gardens, with a Silver Birch forest, vegie garden and olive grove, the property provides plentiful parking including a double garage, and features whimsical entertaining spaces including a circular “champagne house” (named for Paul Bangay’s Stonefields Farmhouse). There are even the remnants of the old Dairy and woodshed to suggest a future project perhaps guest quarters or Airbnb accommodation?

Located to provide a creative tree-change lifestyle or state-of-the-art weekender living, this architect-design is an easy 1.5 hour drive to the CBD, 50 minutes to Dandenong and in reach by rail from Warragul station. Less than 25 minutes to Warragul and Drouin’s regional shopping, right on the Gippsland Food and Wine trail, and an hour to the runs on Mt Baw Baw with Neerim South’s town centre within a walk, the school, hospital, brewery and pub within a minute .and Victoria’s lushest and loveliest rural landscape in view.