The house

Terrara was built in 2000 from rammed earth, its 300mm‑thick walls holding the warmth and cool of the landscape with a natural, effortless steadiness. The house breathes with the rhythm of the seasons, its thermal mass keeping the interior close to the 24‑hour average temperature outside — a gentle, grounding presence in daily life.

Since returning in 2021, we’ve undertaken a series of projects to uplift and care for the house. Our approach balances the functional with the beautiful: upgrading the solar system, replacing ageing water tanks, and tending to the quiet infrastructure that keeps a home running, while also creating spaces that feel thoughtful, expressive, and deeply connected to the place.

Even the smaller projects offer opportunities to honour both purpose and aesthetics. The leadlight panels beside the front door are one of our favourite examples. The original single‑pane glass, paired with a thin reclaimed timber door, had become a significant heat sink. Rather than simply installing double or triple glazing, we worked with Ettore of Kyneton to design new leadlight panels that would solve the problem while enhancing the entrance to the house.

Choosing the glass, refining the design, and seeing the panels installed was a joyful and memorable process — a celebration of craft, colour, and light. Throughout the day, the shifting sun transforms the panels into an ever‑changing play of pattern and hue, something we notice and appreciate each time we pass through the doorway. Fittingly, this project marked our 20th wedding anniversary.

Terrara continues to evolve with us — a home shaped by care, intention, and the quiet beauty of the materials from which it was made.