Australian Exotica: Golden Vale House

 Megalong Valley, Gundungurra country, Australia

Architects: J Mammone Architecture

Lead Architect: Joseph Mammone

Photographs © Katherine Lu, Tom Ferguson

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J Mammone Architecture:

Megalong Valley is located on Gundungurra country, and is commonly translated to the “Valley under the Rock”.  The picturesque location is characterised by immense escarpments, sandstone bluffs and uninterrupted views of the Blue Mountains bushland.

When descending down the valley, one becomes totally immersed within nature, winding through fern-lined roads of the rainforest, evoking a sense of awe and wonder. Reaching the bottom, there is relief in the landscape created by the open pastures. On arrival to the site, the sheer scale and natural beauty of the escarpments are revealed. The journey to site is always memorable - the continually shifting light, dancing on the rocks, creates a unique experience each time you visit. 

The built form holds an exceptional duality - it is bold in architectural expression, yet grounded to the site by its materiality. The design creates a feeling of a calm sanctuary just as the clients imagined their home, “Golden Vale” would manifest. 

The built form consists of a series of extruded forms rotated off a central spine to capture 360-degree views. The large glazed openings, coupled with smaller framed moments, offers the feeling of being within arm’s reach of the natural landscape, and almost on the cusp of the transition between built and unbuilt. The internal layout is bookended by the private sleeping quarters, allowing the open plan living area to become the literal heart of the home. The timber-lined raked ceilings intentionally draw the users’ eyes up towards the escarpment, the iconic Hydro Majestic, and blue skies. The home is humble in its small footprint, although ample to create an aura of comfort and retreat. 

The connection to the site was paramount in the client’s brief, and is evident not only through the architectural design, but also the incorporation of sustainable materials and technologies. The dwelling is self-sufficient, capturing all rainwater, solar harvesting, on-site wastewater management, and geothermal system for temperature regulation.

A restrained material palette came as a response to the site itself; primarily consisting of rammed earth, concrete, charred timber and glass. These form the external shell of the building, creating a simplistic and minimalistic architectural language, while internally this is softened with a layer of natural timbers, soft furnishings and timber veneered products. The darker toned materials allow the house to recede into the landscape, while the large panes of glass are able to filter the golden light into internal spaces. The rammed earth walls contribute a layer of tactility internally and externally, also reflecting the natural formation of the surrounding landscape.

Golden Vale – an inspiring piece of architecture that has a lasting impact on all. The site, the people and the local community have been transformed by this project, becoming a memorable point of reference in Megalong Valley.

Area: 347 m²