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A Modern Barn In Australia Is The Perfect Low-Tech Countryside Retreat

By Simona Ganea | Published on

Trentham once used to be a gold-mining town but as the years passed it turned into this quiet and peaceful Australian retreat, a place where one can enjoy a cozy low-tech country life, where traffic is light and the views are serene and beautiful.

It’s here that MRTN Architects got to build a wonderful residence, a barn house that blends into the surroundings and fits just right into the local and historical context. It’s a nice mixture of old-fashioned and contemporary elements, an amalgam of farmhouse and modern details that give the house a lot of character.

The house is a collection of different volumes all gathered under one gable roofView in gallery
The house is a collection of different volumes all gathered under one gable roof
The palette of materials used throughout the house reflects the surrounding environmentView in gallery
The palette of materials used throughout the house reflects the surrounding environment
A series of sliding doors and screens ensure the easy transition between indoor and outdoor spacesView in gallery
A series of sliding doors and screens ensure the easy transition between indoor and outdoor spaces

The house sits on a large site, being surrounded by neighboring homes on the North, East and West borders and by the main road and a gravel driveway to the South. It cuts through the site almost perfectly, forming rear and front gardens of almost identical proportions. This is an all-year-round, energy-efficient, low-maintenance home which takes advantage of the views but also ensures plenty of privacy.

The living room, kitchen and dining area share an open floor plan with a fireplace wall doubling as a dividerView in gallery
The living room, kitchen and dining area share an open floor plan with a fireplace wall doubling as a divider
The fence and overall distribution of the windows and openings ensure a comfortable level of privacyView in gallery
The fence and overall distribution of the windows and openings ensure a comfortable level of privacy

The long and linear layout is, in fact, practical and surprisingly flexible, this being one of the main requirements right from the start of the project. The living area is spacious and features a double-sided fireplace which also acts as a space divider. The rest of the rooms are welcoming and elegant in their own ways.

The fireplace wall goes all the way up, becoming a focal point and an important structural elementView in gallery
The fireplace wall goes all the way up, becoming a focal point and an important structural element
The kitchen has direct access outdoors and is almost completely covered in woodView in gallery
The kitchen has direct access outdoors and is almost completely covered in wood
The natural patina of the wood-clad facades helps the house blend in more easilyView in gallery
The natural patina of the wood-clad facades helps the house blend in more easily
The black surfaces give the bathroom a cozy and comfortable feel without making it look tinyView in gallery
The black surfaces give the bathroom a cozy and comfortable feel without making it look tiny
The carport is integrated under the same roof for a nice sense of cohesionView in gallery
The carport is integrated under the same roof for a nice sense of cohesion
Generally-speaking, the house is simple and well-suited for its environmentView in gallery
Generally-speaking, the house is simple and well-suited for its environment
The views may not be breathtaking but they're extraordinary in other waysView in gallery
The views may not be breathtaking but they’re extraordinary in other ways
This house is a wonderful blend of old and new, modern and traditional in just the right proportionsView in gallery
This house is a wonderful blend of old and new, modern and traditional in just the right proportions
The building itself occupies a big portion of the site but still leaves room for front and rear gardensView in gallery
The building itself occupies a big portion of the site but still leaves room for front and rear gardens
The gabled roof gives the space a warm and cozy vibe and even adds height to the roomsView in gallery
The gabled roof gives the space a warm and cozy vibe and even adds height to the rooms