Opportunity

Set within the rolling countryside of rural Milton, the project began with a fragmented collection of historic and vernacular structures seeking cohesion. The 1850s stone barn and original farmhouse—each bearing traces of the site’s evolving narrative—stood as powerful yet disconnected elements. The design aimed to reimagine these buildings as a unified residence, one that honours their agricultural roots while introducing clarity, modern functionality, and a renewed environmental consciousness grounded in comfort and sustainability.

The heritage listing of the stone barn presented both an opportunity and a challenge. The design set out to honour the building’s historic character while addressing circulation, accessibility, and environmental performance across multiple structures with varied floor levels and materials. The client’s vision further emphasized the use of natural materials, integration of geothermal and solar systems, and a reimagined landscape connection that celebrates the site’s rural heritage.

Response

The design reimagines the site as a cohesive whole, anchored by the restored stone farmhouse and connected through a series of contemporary interventions that unify the architecture both functionally and visually. Three gabled volumes are tied together through a new transparent link that establishes a clear main entrance, provides direct sightlines through the home, and introduces a sculptural vertical stair element as its focal point.

Original stone and heavy timber were carefully preserved and expressed, complemented by steel and glass additions that distinguish the new from the old without imitation. Reclaimed and locally sourced materials reinforce the project’s sustainable intent, while the integration of geothermal heating and solar panels advances energy performance beyond code.

The result is a home that bridges 19th-century craftsmanship and contemporary design language and  a modern farmhouse that honors its origins while meeting the evolving needs of its owners and the land it occupies.