This semi-rural house on ex-grazing land in Tamworth by MRTN Architects transforms a scrubby parched piece of land into an energy-efficient contemporary home, set within a landscape of regenerated native plants. This meant the design was focused not only on regenerating the land and creating a garden, but also on resisting drought conditions in future.

MRTN Architects created an almost totally enclosed courtyard garden in the centre of the house. At the front of the property, two sheds connected by a roof also connect to the house on either side, forming a square around this central courtyard. MRTN worked closely with SBLA landscape architects to develop the courtyard and the gardens surrounding the house. 

The materials are chosen for their agricultural aesthetic, with a metal roof and walls made of timber and stone. The materiality is deliberately recessive, including a dull silver roof, black sheets and ironbark timber. Inside, rooms are finished in painted plasterboard, timber in the kitchen and tiles in the bathroom, while outdoor spaces are finished in brick, timber and stone. Connecting all buildings with a singular roof design helped to bring down the scale of the house while providing undercover walkways between the buildings. 

The large courtyard helped to establish a garden, while the undercover walkways act as breezeways, akin to those found in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean climates. Tamworth House offers an architecture that sits low on the land, with elongated forms that recede into the landscape. Providing views of the foothills and a sense of being embedded within the Australian landscape, this home is intelligent in design but humble in expression.