Darkinjung people
NSW Regional
Acreage House by Slater Architects is a contemporary rural residence in the Central Coast hinterland, designed to integrate seamlessly with its bushland setting. The design was inspired by a mature gumtree on the site — a place where the family once imagined their future home — which now serves as a backdrop to the dwelling and a nearby fire pit.
The home is composed of a series of articulated pavilions that respond to program, orientation, and topography, sitting lightly within the landscape while maintaining strong indoor–outdoor connections. Expansive glazing draws in natural light and frames panoramic views, ensuring every room engages with its surroundings.
At the heart of the home, a central living pavilion features a dual-access fireplace connecting the living and kitchen spaces. Constructed from stone, timber, concrete, and steel, the house balances durability with warmth, embedding passive solar strategies, water harvesting, and material efficiency into a refined architectural outcome.
Living in our acreage home has been wonderful for our family. The home feels open and spacious, yet still warm and inviting, creating a perfect balance for everyday life. We love how it connects with the surrounding bushland, bringing nature into our daily routines. The use of timber and stone gives the home a natural, timeless quality, and the way the indoor and outdoor spaces flow together has completely shaped how we live, relax, and entertain. It’s a design we’ll always treasure—beautiful, functional, and quintessentially Australian.
Catherine Slater, Design Architect
Nigel Williams, Architectural Draftsperson
Lyndell Gemell, Graduate of Architecture
Gavin Clayton, Project Manager
Building Code & Bushfire Hazard Solutions, Bushfire Consultant
Douglas Partners, Geotechnical Engineer
TOVO Lighting, Lighting Consultant
Northrop Consulting Engineers, Structural Engineer
Chase Burke & Harvey (now Intrax), Land Surveyor
Larry Cook Consulting, Wastewater Management