Among the eucalyptus trees of Red Hill on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, a welcoming retreat gently echoes the quiet magnificence of its natural surrounds.
Designed by GOLDEN as a homage to its pre-existing traditional barn structure on a 52-acre property, Red Barn balances heritage and contemporary in its understated and quintessentially Australian design.
“The project reflects our contextual approach, where design is deeply rooted in place and history,” GOLDEN co-director Alicia McKimm says. “It embraces effortless minimalism and creates harmony through the integration of heritage elements, natural materials, and contemporary design principles,” she adds.
Conceptualised for a musician and property developer, the brief called for a space that would offer additional accommodation for the main home and larger family gatherings for events and private music recitals. GOLDEN worked closely with the client to honour their vision, transforming the barn into a guest retreat that offers comfort and a distinct sense of place.
Structural columns anchor the design, while functional spaces—such as the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms—were treated as insertions that integrate into the barn’s envelope.
Pictured: Cassina Cab dining chairs.
“Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and doors create a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces,” continues McKimm, referring to the once uninhabitable structure. “The pitched ceiling captures natural light, while the darker interior materials provide balance and a sense of grounding within the natural environment,” she says.
The material palette adds warmth and tactility while preserving the structure’s authenticity; each layer adding a sense of harmony between the interior spaces and the surrounding landscape.
“The materials harmonise with the natural surroundings,” GOLDEN co-director Kylie Buhagiar says. Stained timber veneer, cedarwood, and green-hued painted American oak were chosen to create a palette that is both tactile and timeless,” she adds.
Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and doors create seamless indoor-outdoor integration, inviting natural light to enhance the moody interior tones. Pictured: The HAY Palissade dining armchairs.
The addition of a mezzanine loft suite enhances the functionality of the space, while stained plywood cladding reinforces the organic flow of the structure.
Pittella hardware, including the Tura door pulls, are featured throughout Red Hill Barn.
Restoring the original barn presented some challenges for the design team, as it required a number of significant upgrades to make the space habitable while maintaining its architectural integrity. Structural columns and the existing staircase were retained to anchor the design in its heritage, while functional spaces—such as the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms—were treated as insertions that seamlessly integrate into the barn’s envelope. The addition of a mezzanine loft suite further enhances the functionality of the space, while stained plywood cladding reinforces the organic flow of the structure.
Red Barn stands as one of GOLDEN’s most grounded projects. “We wanted to work with the moody aesthetic of Australian design and the serene natural setting,” Buhagiar continues. The project is deeply rooted in place and history, and we’re so pleased that our clients have expressed their appreciation for how the barn perfectly complements the main house while offering a unique charm of its own,” she adds.
The pitched ceiling and stained timber interiors reflect a deeply contextual design approach.
Both the kitchen and primary bedroom seamlessly integrate premium ZETR light switches.
Red Barn is located on a sprawling 52- acre property in Red Hill on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, encircled by century-old eucalyptus trees.
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