The Ceres Gable House is a re-imagined Australian homestead, located within a 700-acre stud farm. The property consists of three family residences, originally build in the 1980s. Tecture architects were engaged to transform the beloved family home to accommodate changing family needs and add some ‘luxe’ to the site. The design reconsiders the architectural language of the Aussie homestead, in a contemporary context.
Ben Robertson explains the original house design as ‘a simple rectilinear form that was reminiscent of an Australian homestead.’ The brief was to enhance the liveability of the home, through introducing a butler pantry, generous laundry, and a new spacious living and dining area. This was achieved through a small extension, and clever re-zoning to improve internal flow, minimising the need for extensive building.
The architects united the new renovations and existing structures through rendering over the existing split face blockwork, and ‘creating a contrasting black colourbond extension to highlight the junction between the old and the new.’ The new Juliette style doors sit centrally, as the heart and entry into this stunning home. Ben highlights how the home ‘watches over the grounds, while its cantilever appears delicate, as if hovering above the landscape.’
The sleek exterior is echoed internally, as a masculine, moody palette blends with the soft curves of fixtures and fittings. An equine influence connects the interiors to the home’s stud farm setting, as classic herringbone stone floors meet with steel strapping details. Tecture’s designs were informed by an interest in the human connection to horses, as well as the animal’s characteristics of strength and stature, elegance and grace.
