A life off the grid: Conversation with Wolveridge Architects

Regularly featured in architectural publications such as The Local Project, The Design Files, and Arch Daily, Melbourne-based studio Wolveridge Architects, is dedicated to creating thoughtful, materially engaging, and meticulously crafted projects that tell a unique story.

You've described this home as "a place of retreat and reflection." How did you design for solitude and seclusion?

The land is incredibly private, although it’s somewhat elevated with both short and expansive outlooks. To be fully surrounded by nature is a pleasure, and allows us to have a place of retreat and retrospection.

The home is nestled into a hill, as re-contoured earth creates grassy mounds that force winds over the house. Creating a space to feel held in—sometimes amongst the wildest of weather—provides a sense of protection. The ability to peer out from a cosy and comfortable bed, and when the moment feels right, step out into the elements—is something I love about this home.

Hillplains House and Cottage takes cues from the surrounding sheds and barns. What drew you to reinterpret this rural form in your place of residence?

Around the time of the post gold rush era, agricultural activity took off and the Hillplains became dotted with structures. They were primarily constructed from timber light frame, timber cladding and metal roofing. Forms were simple and it was these agricultural buildings that stood out for me and informed our material selection and design. 

Each material was an expression of the surrounding agricultural context, however, steel, timber, concrete, and glass are refined through detailed craftmanship

Hillplains House and Cottage is 100% off-grid with solar, battery, and wood-fired heating. What were the biggest challenges in achieving sustainability without compromising luxury?

If we put the expectations of comfort to one side, living in an offgrid home is like sailing. In summer, the home goes into a kind of shut down from the exterior. Autumn and spring are the ideal times, with little reliance on heating, lovely cross-ventilation through every room, but still plentiful sun to charge batteries and heat water. In the winter the main job is keeping the woodfired boiler firing, to warm the house and make our hot water. We have planted several hundred trees over the years, many of which are capable of producing the wood needed to keep the home warm over the cooler months.
 

Is there a particular season when the house feels most alive, and what does that look and feel like?

I have come to love autumn, as for me it’s the most peaceful season. Crabapple and maple trees are changing colour, the grapevine leaves turn a deep purple and begin to fall, the wind drops, and there are crisp, clear skies – perfection.