Contained cottage and pool were added to this vast site.

Architects and owners Jerry Wolveridge and Christina Theodorou designed a new cottage and natural pool for their property outside Melbourne. How did you become involved with this project? We have lived in the original home since it was built several years ago. The property has no grid connected services and has been a testing ground for sustainable design concepts. As the main house is quite compact we wanted to create a place for friends and family to stay as well as tourist accommodation. So we explored how a self-contained cottage with separate bedroom and bathroom could also be a recreational space and a pool house for our family. What were some of the challenges? Although the property is vast – more than eight hectares – the dwelling precinct is physically constrained due to the topography, limiting the opportunity to extend the house itself. So we followed the ridgeline up the slope and located the new complex so that it is not overbearing or impacts the viewlines from the main house. In doing so, a range of new outlooks, towards Heathcote and the full panorama of the Metcalfe range can be enjoyed from the cottage and pool. We set the pool water level so that the occupants’ outlook is totally natural. Because the wind can get up we created a series of protected spaces including using the cottage itself to shield the pool from southerly breezes and introduced a tall timber glazed element for protection and to provide a visual link from the old house to the pool. Are there any particular considerations for designing a home in a rural setting? Bushfires are a threat in summer although our property is very defendable, also wildlife, particularly kangaroos, are present on a daily basis, so we had to consider that when choosing plantings. What are some of your favourite design elements in the home? We value that the cottage is a separate building. It is a recreational venue for our family, especially during summer. It is a simple, unadorned blackbutt structure. Protected window openings and a deep verandah contribute to its Australianness. hillplainscottage.com; wolveridge.com.au