Funny Farm | Coatesville

Set on a family property between Coatesville and Riverhead, this house is rooted in 28 years of family history, with the new build continuing that deep connection to the land. Designed as a contemporary take on the traditional farm homestead, the building respects its site by floating above the ground on a timber platform, clad in silvered Abodo timber that allows it to sit lightly within the surrounding landscape.

The brief called for a home tailored to quiet family life that could equally embrace the owners’ love of entertaining. Generous three-metre verandas wrap the northern and western edges to create sheltered outdoor living, while inside, the open-plan area drops into a sunken 1970s-style conversation pit centered around a free-standing fireplace and hand-mixed concrete backdrop. Tucked into the south-west corner, the layout even incorporates a designated rave room for late-night music and gatherings.

Throughout the home, a series of unexpected architectural moments bring a sense of playfulness. Steps lead up from the lounge to a high-perched window seat set beside a large porthole—the only round window in the house—while overhead, a frameless pane fills the gable to frame the moon at specific times of the year. Moving away from stark white walls, the interior combines Birch ply, batten ceilings, earthy wool textures, and expressive wall coverings to deliver a home with a serious sense of place, but plenty of room for fun.

Featured in Home magazine Issue 526 (Oct/Nov 2026), "Dancing on the Farm"