Inside a Modern Farmhouse Oasis: A Countryside Family Home Made of Rammed Earth (House Tour)

Surrounded by large fields, Casa di Campo is a modern farmhouse that responds to the landscape and offers an oasis-like lifestyle for its owners. Located in Werribee South, Victoria, where homes are spaced out by green fields and red dirt landscapes, the family of second-generation market gardeners requested a modern farmhouse. Responding to the client’s brief, Neil Architecture built a home with inward facing courtyards, a private garden space and a pool that the family could find reprieve in. Whilst a calming residence from the inside, Casa di Campo appears as a solid monolithic form that stands out from nearby farming houses.

Once inside, the house tour first reveals a lush green garden that is designed like a Roman courtyard. With a portico that runs along two sides, the pond traditionally included is instead a swimming pool. Acre also installs cut granite boulders as stepping stones that become a major aspect to the garden’s function. Following a short passage leads into the family living rooms, which have been divided by a large centre fireplace. With no white walls featuring in the interior design of the modern farmhouse, the architects have used textures throughout to provide a unique aspect to the home. The floor is also distinct, appearing as one poured slab with smooth edges and a fine aggregate finish that the clients have fallen in love with.

Separate from the living zone, the children’s bedrooms offer a view through the colonnade and into the garden, giving them ample space to play and enjoy the modern farmhouse. At the eastern end of the home, the main bedroom holds a small private courtyard that invites in the morning sun and offers a space for the parents to unwind and enjoy. Putting together material elements of the modern farmhouse, the architects employed rammed earth for its warm pale tone and unique interior experience. Alongside the rammed-earth architecture is timber wall panelling, Quartzite stone in the kitchen and bathrooms and a green elemental tone within the bathrooms and hallways that helps to sooth the interior features of the modern farmhouse.

Although set among the fields, where the brown rich soil and the bright greens mix harmoniously, the residence separates itself from the working environment and becomes its own destination. Taking on architecture, interior design and styling, Neil Architecture turns a family home into a pleasantly surprising paradise with an exterior that provides no clues as to what is inside.

00:00 - Surfshark VPN
00:10 - Introduction to the Modern Farmhouse
00:42 - Designing in Response to the Landscape
01:03 - The Brief and the Clients
01:34 - Impressions On Arrival
01:50 - A Walkthrough of the Home
03:00 - The Different Aspects
03:21 - The Material Palette and Textures
04:49 - Proud Moments
05:17 - Surfshark VPN

For more from The Local Project:

Photography by Tom Blachford.
Architecture, Interior Design and Styling by Neil Architecture.
Build by Fido Projects.
Landscape Architecture by Acre.
Landscape Construction by FORM.
Structural Engineering by Structplan.
Rammed Earth Construction by Olnee Rammed Earth.
Furniture by pomp Interior Design Studio.
Filmed and Edited by Cheer Squad Film Co.
Production by The Local Project.

The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.

#ModernFarmhouse #HouseTour #Architecture

[nicholaslee]

I've seen a lot of TLP but this has to be the best edited video on the channel for sure. Super cool effects + transitions, not to mention the great shot choices and overall 'flow' of the video (which I think has been occasionally lacking with other uploads). Incredible job!

[JK-fivh]

What a beautiful home. Love how it opens out inside out especially in such a rural setting. Hats off to the architect and builder!

[serionhelbert]

the sound selection, the editing, and just over all video quality in every episode is just excellently crafted! especially the music choices! good job to who ever made this video!

[littlenest]

The spaces in this house are so beautifully curated and with the internal courtyards and green spaces this house could almost fit anywhere! Another great local project! ♥

[nejc]

I love the material colors, everything goes so seamlessly together.

[muhlaynee]

Give your editor a raise. Whatever they want, just give it to them.

[mrvk]

I'd love to see the inner garden fully mature, when trees grow up and you have this lush green heart of a bunker-style house. I wonder if the tree tops will be higher than the walls and people from outside would look and wonder what's inside that fortress-like home. It was interesting to learn that the family didn't want to stare at the fields because it's "work".. to me they soil and the green where very beautiful but I get how they didn't want to see it all day long. The architect did a great job adhering to the brief of the client and yet allowing nature in.

[jolynbranch]

The Local Project videos are works of art, so beautifully presented and such beautiful homes. They are a feast for the senses. I enjoy them so much and find them very inspiring. Thanks to all who work to put them together!

[jtuck]

Impressive! The fact that you are able obtain that level of craftsmanship in a rural area had to one of many challenges you had to overcome. From what I have observed viewing many of your Local Project videos, Architectural excellence is a given. Hats off to the owners for building a house like that in rural (farming community).

[Su-jbzr]

1 Stunning design n materials
2 That Editor is top notch
3 Love this channel !

[fragout]

When I stumbled on The Local Project and Hunting for George, it was like finding Dwell and Wallpaper magazines for the first time back in 1999!! Absolutely LOVE the production value and the indepth story of the homes and architects/designers and locations every single time!! I may not always like the homes, which is rare, but the effort put into the production shows a real love OF architecture, and that's what matters!! Thank you for bringing that textural feeling of Dwell's magazine covers (those that understand the texture of their magazine covers understand what I mean), to life! It truly drives me to want to continue my career in architecture here in the states daily!!!

[julieuk]

Watching your videos helps form the best part of my day!

[nikkilogan]

Who knew that a beautiful home like that would be built in the middle of the farm?!? So cool! Thanks Local Project 😎

[ShaddeyNNM]

I'm in love, this is gorgeous and of course the editing was the cherry on top

[CG-]

Finally a property on this channel that is not a federation cottage with a humongous modern, flat roofed extension stuck on the back filling the garden.

[anatolyivanov]

2:12 - that underwater sharp corner is real killer feature!

[donnaoz]

A stunning oasis... just what was intended

[yogotti]

Such a unique and amazing home! & the music had me dancing while I was watching!!

[grantwalkersound]

I shit you not... I have been designing a house almost exactly like this for my family. Stabilized Insulated Rammed Earth, tinted grey instead of the typical red that is associated with Rammed Earth. Roman courtyards... I want it on 20-40 acres to start a market farm... literally the whole deal... It's insane. Though I want soapstone countertops not quartz.

[minhluu]

Project recommendation: 2 Yarra Grove Hawthorne (VIC)