Nestled in Sutton, a small grazing village on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country near the Yass River, Ochre House tells a story of simplicity, restraint, and connection to place. Designed by MYMYMY Architecture and built by Megaflora Group, the house sits lightly on its east-to-west sloping site, surrounded by gum trees and native flora.
“The land is really special,” says Mark Brook, Director of MYMYMY Architecture. “It has a gentle slope, covered in gum trees, and is home to native plants and animals. We wanted the house to hover above the contours, avoiding terraces and allowing the landscape to flow up to, under, and around the home.” The approach to the house follows the existing fence line, a deliberate nod to preserving the land’s history and patterns. The clients sought to move to this rural property and create a home that felt honest, grounded, and connected to its surroundings. MYMYMY imagined this project as something vernacular to the Australian landscape: a saltbox-shaped form detailed in a way that is undeniably modern.
The materiality is at the heart of Ochre House. Bold terracotta corrugated steel cladding, inspired by the ochres of Indigenous pigments and the hues of native flora, anchors the home in its landscape. “At first glance, the terracotta might seem unconventional,” says Mark, “but it resonates deeply with the surroundings, like a banksia flower amongst the greens and greys of the bush.” Grey Ironbark timber is used untreated and raw throughout the interiors, evoking the humble materiality of local shearing sheds and creating a strong connection to the surrounding eucalyptus trees. Rose and gold stained glass windows cast dappled, shifting light throughout the house, celebrating the ever-changing natural environment.
The floor plan embraces efficiency and functionality. Shaped like an ‘H,’ it creates sheltered courtyards for outdoor living, while orienting internal spaces to maximize natural light and views of the landscape. On one side
