Heather’s House—An Off-Grid Farmhouse in Rural Victoria
Heather’s House by Gardiner Architects is an off-grid sustainably built rural farmhouse, designed to stand the test of time and nature’s elements.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Rory Gardiner I Build: Spence Construction
The sustainable farmhouse balances modern comforts, flexibility and off-grid living, with a design that’s responsive to the farmland and the native vegetation that surrounds it.
The project had to adhere to a constrained budget, shaping every decision made throughout its execution.
Flexibility was central to the design of the home, reflecting the owner’s emphasis on adaptability.
‘The shape of the house, which was selected primarily to turn its back on westerly winds while creating a protected, east facing courtyard, allowed the different areas of the home to feel quite separate, while also being a comfortable distance from each other,’ says Marlee Dawson.
The south-facing deck has direct access to the vegetable garden.
The neutral colour palette used for the interior is echoed on the exterior of the farmhouse.
Heather’s sustainable farmhouse integrates innovative sustainable practices across building techniques, material selections, and an off-grid energy system.
Heather’s House, by Gardiner Architects, is nestled on the edge of Barwon Valley in Birregurra, in Victoria, on Gulidjan and Wadawurrung country.
The design brief from the owner, Heather –an artist and kindergarten teacher– revolved around several key principles and values, reflecting her vision and main priorities, focusing on family support and intergenerational living. Heather purchased the farm to provide a home for her children and their families, while also creating a rural retreat for herself.
The sustainable farmhouse sits on a vast 37-hectare property, balancing modern comforts, flexibility and off-grid living with a design that’s responsive to the farmland and the native vegetation that surrounds it.
Heather engaged with Gardiner Architects to bring her sustainable, off-grid farmhouse to life. Responding to the rural setting, sustainability was the fundamental principle for the design—incorporating solar panels, water tanks, a transpiration septic system and a wood-fired boiler for heating. The commitment to sustainability extends to native vegetation restoration and erosion control, aligning with Heather's values of environmental stewardship and responsible land management.
‘The context of this site pushed the requirements as it’s quite exposed to the element. It’s also too far from any road to allow for a mains power, sewer or water connection—it was important to research and develop a design that worked with the site as well as ensuring Heather could live completely off-grid comfortably, which is no small feat!’ shares Marlee Dawson, senior project architect at Gardiner Architects. ‘The outcome is a house that works well in all weather conditions, is durable and is built to last. The timber cladding will continue to grey, the garden will continue to grow, and the house will sit there for the next 100 years,’ she adds.
The shape of the house, which was selected primarily to turn its back on westerly winds while creating a protected, east facing courtyard, allows the different areas of the home to feel separate, while also being a comfortable distance from each other.
A standout feature of the home is its ability to work well in all climates and also accommodate both the quiet and busy activities of life. The farmhouse can be completely closed and kept warm in the cooler months, due to the additional insulation, protected windows and concrete slab for thermal mass. A wood-fired boiler made by a local fabricator provides warmth throughout.
In summer, the off-grid farmhouse can be opened up to allow for breezes to flow through the spaces. Large deck areas offer protection from the sun and become additional living and work spaces for meals and for processing food from the abundant edible food garden, which also makes use of collected rainwater and a transpiration septic system to grow food efficiently.
‘The result is a timeless and resilient farmhouse that not only meets the client's budget constraints but also surpassed her aspirations for a sustainable rural retreat,’ adds Marlee.
The commitment to sustainability extends to native vegetation restoration and erosion control, aligning with the home owner’s values of environmental stewardship and responsible land management.
In the living room, toys are left on display for when Heather’s grandchildren come to stay at the property.
The use of locally sourced plantation timber with low embodied energy was a strong influencing factor in the design of the farmhouse.
“The outcome is a house that works well in all weather conditions, is durable and is built to last. The timber cladding will continue to grey, the garden will continue to grow, and the house will sit there for the next 100 years.”
The orientation of Heather’s House turns its back to prevailing westerly winds.
The calming neutral aesthetic extends to the bedroom space.
‘Large deck areas protected from the sun become additional living and work spaces for meals and for processing food from the abundant veggie patch.’