Design Overview
Littlefields House is a custom country home in Mulgoa, designed on an acreage property where biodiversity restrictions limited the available building area to approximately 400 m². The design needed to accommodate a substantial family residence while addressing bushfire requirements, established vegetation and the property's rural setting.
DA & CC Approval - Penrith City Council
More About This Project
The Brief
Custom Country Home on a Restricted Acreage Site in Mulgoa
Littlefields House involved designing a substantial family home on a rural property in Mulgoa, Western Sydney.
The owners wanted a comfortable country residence with generous living spaces, plenty of natural light and a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.
Although the property had around six acres of usable land, biodiversity restrictions limited the available building area to approximately 400 m².
The challenge was fitting the owners' requirements into this restricted area while addressing the property's bushfire exposure and protecting the surrounding vegetation.
The Design Response
Making the Most of a 400 m² Building Area
We worked closely with the owners, Penrith City Council and specialist consultants to establish where the house could be positioned and how much of the available building area could be used.
Rather than trying to fit a predetermined house design onto the property, we developed the layout around the restricted building area from the beginning.
This allowed us to accommodate the owners' requirements while addressing the limitations identified through the biodiversity assessment.
Designing Around Bushfire Requirements and Established Vegetation
Bushfire protection was another important part of the project.
We coordinated the architectural design with specialist advice so the home could be developed in response to the property's bushfire exposure and environmental constraints.
The building position, surrounding vegetation and site requirements were considered together, rather than treating the bushfire and biodiversity issues as separate problems.
Bringing Northern Sunlight into the Family Living Areas
Although the site had a predominantly east-west orientation, we were able to position the main living spaces to benefit from northern sunlight.
Large areas of north-facing glazing were incorporated to bring winter sun into the home and improve natural light.
The completed design also includes generous glazing, raked ceilings and outdoor entertaining areas overlooking the swimming pool, making the most of the property's country setting.
Project Outcome
DA & CC Approved Country Home in Mulgoa – Penrith City Council
Littlefields House received Development Application and Construction Certificate approval and was subsequently completed.
The finished residence provides a substantial single-storey country home with generous family living spaces, a swimming pool and outdoor entertaining areas.
The most important achievement was being able to deliver the owners' home within a restricted building area while addressing the property's biodiversity and bushfire requirements.
The project demonstrates how careful site planning, specialist coordination and custom residential design can make a difficult acreage property suitable for a family home.
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