The Mountain House, Fairhaven (designed)

Set gently amongst the trees, Mountain House is shaped by its surroundings — a bushland setting with long views across the rising hills to the north-west. Designed to sit lightly within the topography, the home opens itself to light, shade, and perspective, embracing the ever-shifting qualities of the site.

Existing trees are preserved and celebrated, offering natural shade, privacy, and a sense of stillness beneath the canopy. Openings are carefully framed to catch glimpses of the mountains, while also pulling in the warmth of the winter sun and sheltering from the summer heat.

The living areas are oriented toward the view, stepping with the land to follow the contours of the site. A pool forms part of the outdoor threshold — a place of reflection and cool relief, tucked into the bush backdrop. Inside and out, spaces are layered to balance openness and retreat.

The house is imagined as both grounded and responsive — a quiet dwelling that engages with its context and captures the essence of the Australian bush landscape.