Patanga Cabin New South Wales building project, Australia real estate, NSW architecture photos

Patanga Cabin in New South Wales, Australia

29 March 2024

Design: Fabric Architecture Studio

Location: Patanga Estate, New South Wales, Australia

Photos by Alex McIntyre

Patanga Cabin, Australia

Driven by the project philosophy of seeking harmony and balance between human habitation with ecological preservation, Patanga Cabin is at one with its site. Its simple form and shadowy exterior blend into the landscape, while framed views amplify the beauty and immediacy of the natural environment. The cabin showcases Fabric Architecture’s approach to small-footprint design, using sustainable and healthy materials, and creating spaces that enhance the feeling of being immersed in nature.

Project story
Driving through Patanga Estate there are glimpses of the cabin through the trees. Nestled in a clearing, its shadowy exterior recedes into the bush, while the roof, awning and deck extend out from the building and hillside to invite you in. Once inside, large windows frame expansive views of the landscape, amplifying the beauty and immediacy of the natural environment.

Fabric Architecture’s design of Patanga Cabin was driven by the overall project philosophy of seeking harmony and balance between human habitation with ecological preservation. The cabin is a guest house on Patanga Estate, a 25-acre greenfield site that we master planned and developed for our clients who wanted to create a sustainable, off-grid haven in the Hunter valley, NSW. Stage 1 of the masterplan has been completed, with Patanga Cabin showcasing our approach to small-footprint design, using sustainable and healthy materials, and creating spaces that enhance the feeling of being immersed in nature.

We designed the building specifically for its site, oriented for solar gain and compliant with BAL29 requirements. We also carefully planned and coordinated the build to reduce disruption to soils, water courses and the local habitat.

The cabin sits lightly on the land, built on small pad footings. The architecture is a contemporary take on the Australian farmhouse, with a simple pitched roof extending over the rectangular volume and the timber deck wrapping around the side and front. The cabin has a 70sqm internal footprint and a 40sqm deck and is designed on a strict grid to minimise materials and waste.

The dark exterior cladding recedes into the surrounding environment, while inside, the dark ceilings and timber veneer joinery bring warmth and richness into the light, open spaces. The neutral and natural palette allows views of the bushland to come to the fore. We selected the materials for their natural qualities, to blend with the environment and be bushfire resistant.

In the living room and kitchen, ribbon windows frame the landscape and high-level windows capture views of the tree canopy and sky and filter northern light inside. The kitchen joinery and island provide a dark backdrop to the living room, and built-in upholstered bench seats wrap around two walls and create an alcove around the dining table. Marble floor tiles throughout the cabin are soft underfoot. They

continue on the walls of the bathroom, enhancing the sense of enclosure, while the skylight evokes the feeling of an outdoor shower. In the main bedroom, a large picture window forges a direct connection to the landscape, and a bench seat and desk offer front row seats to the spectacular view. The rear bedroom has bespoke bunk beds, which we designed and clad with custom-stained plywood.

Optimising thermal comfort and energy efficiency, the cabin faces due north, with windows and shading to maximise winter sun, mitigate summer sun and promote cross-ventilation. uPVC windows and European ‘lift and slide’ systems fully seal and insulate the building. The cabin is off-grid, with a nearby shed housing the generator, solar array and batteries for the entire site. There are also Econcycle waste tanks. Driven by the ethos of living in harmony with nature, Patanga Cabin is at one with its site. It blends into the landscape and allows guests to connect with the natural surroundings in a respectful, engaging way.

About Patanga Estate
Patanga Estate is an off-grid sustainable development that Fabric Architecture master planned and developed. The densely vegetated 25-acre greenfield site was largely untouched, except for a few farm trails and some small clearings by the previous owner. There was no established site access, electricity or town water. The development needed to comply with bushfire and ecological zoning, including koala habitat protection.

The clients’ vision was to create an off-grid, sustainable development where they could foster cultural engagement and community connection in harmony with nature. It would include a main dwelling and guest house (Patanga Cabin). Self-contained holiday cabins would be dotted around the site, and the land planted with vineyards, orchards and edible produce.

We completed Stage 1 of the masterplan: site establishment, roads, civil work, guest house, rainwater tank and shed, which houses the generator, solar array and batteries for the entire site. Patanga Cabin, the first completed building, demonstrates our approach to the site and architecture.

Patanga means ‘place of gum trees’ in the local indigenous language. Not a single gum tree, or any kind of tree, was removed during the design or construction of the roads, infrastructure or buildings, and local Grey-crowned Babbler nests were relocated away from proposed development areas. This deliberate decision demonstrates the dedication to preserving the vegetation and biodiversity of the area and underscores the project philosophy to harmonise human habitation with ecological preservation.

Pull quotes
“The way the cabin sits in the landscape is exactly how we envisaged it in one of our early site sketches and you get glimpses of the cabin through the gum trees on the approach from the drive in.”

“We selected materials for their natural qualities, to blend with the environment and be bushfire resistant. We also chose materials that contribute to a healthier and more sustainable built environment, prioritising indoor air quality and sustainable supply chains.”

“It’s rare to have the opportunity to masterplan an off-grid sustainable development from scratch. This is what we had the privilege to do for Patanga Estate in the Hunter Valley.”

Patanga Cabin in New South Wales, Australia – Building Information

Design: Fabric Architecture Studio – https://www.fabricarchitecture.com.au/

Completion date 2023

ACOR Consultants Engineers
Lou Projects

Photography: Alex McIntyre

Patanga Cabin, NSW, Australia images / information received 290324

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