Rural Retreat

An unobtrusive and self-sufficient weekender by MRTN Architects offers rural solitude and an opportunity to work the land.

As you drive northwards, beyond Melbourne’s Tullmarine airport, semi-urban sprawl makes way for swathes of pastoral grazing land and grassy knolls, sparsely populated with pockets of trees and granite outcrops. As you descend a natural rise into the little-known district of Nulla Vale, two identical shed-shaped silhouettes come into focus; standalone structures across more than two kilometres of harsh terrain.

Occupying a mere 50 square metres in the centre of a 300-acre plot, a modest weekender marks the end of a snaking driveway, which rises and falls along a natural desire line. Designed by architecture practice MRTN Architects, this rural getaway belongs to two Melbourne professionals, Michelle and Louise (and their three dogs: Scout, Boston and Diesel), who sought sanctuary from their demanding city lives. “We drove off the obvious highways and stumbled across this piece of land, to which we felt an almost spiritual connection,” says Michelle. “It had no infrastructure. It experiences high winds. It’s inhospitable really, but we just love its rugged beauty.”

In many respects, this is no ordinary holiday house, where a comfortable, fuss-free lifestyle is a priority. “Our clients wanted a modest house where they could come together on the weekend,” explains MRTN director Antony Martin, “but they purchased this plot with the aim of really embedding themselves in the landscape. They didn’t want a quick fix.” Because the couple wants flexibility to potentially live there full-time in the future, they charged Antony with building a small home that could be converted into a larger house at a later stage. Their immediate need was to establish a connection to the landscape – an authentic commitment they’ve already demonstrated by adding a greenhouse, rehabilitative planting and