This family wanted to accommodate their future growing family while creating an open space which could also adjust to the varying temperatures of country living. We were very aware of the position of the home to enjoy the country setting and take in particular views which would also allow the home to breathe naturally during the summer months and therefore avoid using air conditioning. We put concrete floors in the bathroom, which was tricky due to regulations, but was an important environmental factor in the design. The family wanted open style living while also having the distinction of kitchen, dining and living areas. We did this with a custom-built bookshelf which created a separation point and also provided an intimate space / semi-private library style area. ​We needed to have a space inside the home for children to play, ride bikes and be kids without feeling like they were ‘stuck inside’. We did this by creating a long large hallway that the kids could use all year round without the need for going outside in the extreme summer heat or winter cold. We achieved separated heating and cooling in this open plan living home by creating a cavity sliding door in the hall. Using one end of the house when additional heating was required. The main bathroom being outside of this sectioned off area wasn’t an issue as the family were able to utilise the ensuite. Beautiful lawn space was important. We created a courtyard style grassed area near the home and for the home, low maintenance was important so we used a beautiful timber which aged naturally.