A new house in a sheep paddock was the starting point for this project. Together with their clients' appreciation of the rustic and eclectic, this context enabled r+m to explore a rural aesthetic that slots comfortably in the paddock.

One of r+m's first decision was to create a smooth transition from house lawn to sheep paddock. A ha-ha was designed, meaning that the visual and physical intrusion of a fence between the two areas was not necessary. While this gave their customers some initial anxiety, thinking animals were on their lawn when they actually weren't! The ha-ha proves a clever idea.

The smaller patios, leading from the interior living areas, flow easily into a larger courtyard space. A transition to the broader landscape was achieved through a series of schist chip paths, stone walls, and wide timber steps to the main lawn.

The rural environment is accentuated by parkland trees, perennial gardens, vegetable gardens, hedges, and a chicken run. r+m realised the vision of their client and created a simple, visually amazing yet subtle insertion into the broader landscape.