This was a unique project for MAEK, given its regional setting in the Murray Region of Western Australia.

Named The Forest House because it is, quite literally, surrounded by glorious Darling Range state forest dense with magnificent Jarrah and Marri trees. The property itself, complete with cherry trees, a turn-of-the century woodcutters hut and a handcrafted treehouse, provides a wonderful bush getaway for its young family of four.

The brief for this home was to interact with and be a part of its natural environment; to sit comfortably within the landscape and complement its surroundings. The home needed to be cosy enough for its family on a cold winter’s night, but also be able to accommodate 3 or 4 families for fun farm stay weekends.

And so, MAEK designed a contemporary take of the traditional Australian farmhouse, taking cues from an early settler’s cottage and delivering it with rustic materiality using modern detail and design. Given its bush setting, fire safety was a top priority during the design process, which instructed the exterior materials of Colorbond Steel and Iron Bark.

Extensive native gardens by Sabrina Hahn surround the home and bring delightful nature to its doorstep, including Bees, Blue Wrens and Red Breasted Robins.