Fairfield House
This is a south facing, steep bush block on the banks of the Yarra River in the inner-city suburb of Fairfield.
A number of external spaces have been designed to make this native garden habitable.
They are strung along a winding path that leads to the banks of the river.
The objective was to achieve a beautiful native garden that could be used by creating a number of destinations. The garden needed to feel like an extension of the Yarra River corridor.
The design accommodates Summer and Winter experiences; it lures you from the comfort of the house into the Australian bush.
Strong geometry is used to create the form of these ‘destinations’.
The pool is a circle surrounded by Castlemaine slate, at its centre the water is deep and chemical free. A stone bridge separates plants from swimmers.
The pool’s colour was carefully selected to compliments the river bush palette. It is more pond when not in use, reflecting surrounding trees and overhead cloud.
The fireplace is located closer to the river than the house. It is positioned so as to be ‘discovered’ or ‘stumbled upon’, much like a rural ruin.
