CHALLENGE
RANCH
Designing a bush retreat for an isolated
site on the NSW Far South Coast created
challenges at every turn for architect
Michael Marshman.
First there was the familiar restriction of
budget limitations, then the twin hazards
of bushfires and termites and finally the
logistical nightmares of tracks not designed
for heavy loads of building materials.
To further complicate matters in this flame
zone and rain shadow location, the use of
gutters for rainwater collection was not
possible because of the risk that trapped
leaves would create a spot fire hazard.
The solution, using Lysaght cladding
for walls and roof, has answered all the
challenges, delighted the owners and
encouraged staff at Michael Marshman and
Associates to think about steel cladding in
new ways.
“The building site is on a timbered property
without any services, adjoining a national
park and forestry land,” Marshman said.
“The owners had previously camped there,
but they wanted a local architect to design a
retreat which could be used as a base for
hiking and exploring the bush.
“They wanted a two bedroom house so
they could have friends to stay, but beyond
that a lot of the design process was about
what they needed in that location rather
than what they wanted.”
Water, for drinking, washing and fire
fighting, was right at the top of the list of
priorities and calculations which indicated
the need for a 158m square rainwater
harvesting area became a starting point for
design.
To Marshman’s eye it sits atop the house
like a large umbrella, covering an area that’s
twice as large as the area contained with
the walls.
