THIS PAGE: The materials in the extension include

THIS PAGE: The materials in the extension
include Russian imported plywood on the
main feature wall which elegantly conceals
storage, and large, hard wearing cut blue
stone tiles on the floors to soak up the
warmth of the winter sun.
The exterior is clad in Silver Top Ash sourced
from East Gippsland. Originally the timber
was rich red but after three years it is
colouring to a weathered silver.
Split
Personality
RESCUED AND RESTORED THIS MEENIYAN HOME
HAS A DUAL PERSONALITY - PART PERIOD
COTTAGE PART UBER MODERN ABODE.
WORDS Rebecca Faltyn
PHOTOGRAPHS Lachlan Moore
O
n first glance the Meeniyan home of Lindsay and
Robyn Moore reflects a gentile time ‘gone by’
the original cottage presenting a traditional face
in the landscape. Travel down the driveway and
you see the home’s ultra modern extension giving the home
its split personality.
Not only is the home unique but the whole project takes
on a different slant when you learn that it was a complete
family affair with the couple’s daughter Andrea Moore doing
the bulk of the design, research and planning work.
The property of about 11 acres is just a minute or so south
of Meeniyan. The original four room cottage was moved from
Leongatha to Meeniyan about three decades ago. When
Robyn and Lindsay bought it, initially as an investment, it was
in a sad state – concealed by overgrown trees and shrubs.
But they could see the potential and that they could work with
the cottage’s solid foundations.
The original cottage displays the typical design features of
the era, with wide sweeping verandas all around, high internal
ceilings and a wide corridor that is the spine to the main
rooms. This part of the cottage is as Lindsay described it the
“dormitory.” There are three bedrooms and an elegant study
with a fireplace with a box window extended to create the
ultimate space for Lindsay’s desk. “There are good aspects
to the old place. Particularly as a dormitory as it is separate to
the extension and it is comfortable with the verandas.”
At the end of a corridor of the cottage the home
transforms. You take one step down from old to new and
the main living room opens up brilliantly with large picture
windows to frame the view over the rolling countryside.
18
gippsland country life
Everything about the extension is a contrast to the original
cottage. Instead of timber sash windows there are state of
the art wall to ceiling, double glazed windows, inserted with
equally high flywire screens that double to filter the sunlight
beaming into the open plan room. From classic French doors
that open to the verandah on the cottage, the extension has
walls devoted to sliding glass opening to the ultra-modern
pebbled courtyard. “The fly screens are almost like a third
layer, they cut down the amount of sun in summer. They serve
more than one purpose.”
One of the pleasant aspects to the new extension is the
amount of natural light that floods in. There is no need to have
lights on in the day, and cleverly placed skylights light up the
laundry and utility rooms. Dual aspect windows show off the
big horizon views.
“I often come out here (into the living room) in the evening.
You can see the stars and the moon in plain view. When all
the lights are off the stars are amazing,” said Robyn.
A main feature of the design is the central courtyard that
is accessed from the hallway, and the main living room. The
courtyard is a winter sun trap and also provides shelter from
the winds that can whistle in from the South. At the centre
of the courtyard is a large white magnolia tree. A substantial
outdoor entertaining area features an impressive built-in
barbecue and also the unique timber panels that can be lifted
to provide shelter.
Andrea’s subtle Japanese and Scandinavian influences
are peppered throughout the home and are most evident in
the main bathroom. At first you feel as if you are stepping into
a Japanese bath house. The floor to ceiling window shows
ourcountrylife
“I often come out here in
the evening. You can see
the stars and the moon in
plain view.”
THIS PAGE: Andrea’s subtle Japanese
and Scandinavian influences are peppered
throughout the home, and are most evident
in the main bathroom. At first you feel as
if you are stepping into a Japanese bath
house. The floor to ceiling window shows a
view to a tranquil garden scene. The glass
wall can be opened to the elements so it is
beautiful on a hot summer’s night.
THIS PAGE: Far from being a sterile,
minimalist abode this home has a distinct
warmth and appeal – largely due to the many
pieces of furniture made by Lindsay. The
main dining table he made from Tasmanian
Oak and coupled with the plywood on the
walls gives the home that Scandinavian
touch. He made the concrete bath, the
floating bed and side tables in the couple’s
main bedroom.
TOP LEFT The concrete bath made by Lindsay is deep
and generous. “Having a bath to soak in has been helpful
as we are getting older, I’ve never had so many baths in
my life,” said Lindsay.
BELOW LEFT Leaving the original cottage you step into
this broad corridor into a different world. “We were keen to
maintain the scale (of the cottage) including the height of
the ceilings.”
BELOW RIGHT Paying homage to the simple and
streamlined Japanese style the light switches and fittings
are concealed, there is minimal use of door handles,
hidden light fittings and floor to ceiling pivot doors
accentuate the streamlined feel and the ceiling height. The
laundry is concealed within a central hub behind touch
open doors.
ourcountrylife
“It was a case of how
you use what you’ve
got and get the best
out of it.”
a view to a tranquil garden scene. The glass wall can be opened to the
elements so it is beautiful on a hot summer’s night.
The extensive use of blue stone on the floors and the walls gives the
room a solid footing, while the rectangular concrete bath is a simple and
austere statement. A timber slatted bench makes you feel as if you have
stepped into a sauna room in Finland.
The couple had planned to build a contemporary home and the
opportunity to collaborate with their daughter and use the best bits of the
cottage came to fruition.
“We had been thinking of building a modern house. My father was
a builder and I always wanted to build a house and we decided that it
would be now or never. And the cottage just had a nice feel about it.
“We were influenced by our daughter. She has studied interior
architecture and design. She was keen and we were confident in her
ability and she came up with the design and the overall concept.”
Andrea Moore currently works in Melbourne as a stylist and designer
and undertook the task of researching, planning and designing her
parent’s extension. For Robyn and Lindsay it was a delight to have their
daughter create their home. “One of the great pleasures is that it has
been a bit of a family affair.”
The extension took two years to build and a year before that in
planning and researching. “The house is where it was but it is in a good
position. It was a case then of how you use what you’ve got and get the
best out of it,” said Lindsay. “I really enjoyed the process, even though
there were some problems. We were pushing the boundaries with some
things.”
Designed to be easily managed inside and out, the outside spaces
mirror the minimalist themes of the interior. There is minimal garden
with blankets of lawn surrounding the house and a small orchard and
plantings of gums.
“It is very easy to live in and everything works well and we use every
part of the house,” said Robyn. “At our age you tend to know what you
want and what will stay the distance. It is very easy to live in.”
www.studiomoore.com.au
www.lachlanemoore.com.au
Robyn and Lindsay have lived in Meeniyan for more
than 40 years, and lived in a period home in town while
raising their children. Lindsay originally moved to the
area to take up a job as a vet and he continues to
serve the local community.