Grid & Garden House

Set within a semi-rural landscape in Anstead, The Grid and Garden House is the long-anticipated home of builder Nick and his wife Cheryl, developed after years of delivering architectural homes for others. Positioned at the northern end of a long-held site, within a garden carefully established over time, the house allows work to remain to the south while daily life centres on garden, outlook and ease.

The home is arranged as a series of pavilions separated by verandahs that float just above the ground, creating clear transitions between inside and out. A disciplined architectural grid provides structure to plan and movement, forming north- and south-facing courtyards that allow the garden to interrupt the grid and shape the experience of the house. The project is as much landscape as architecture, balancing modest scale with a commitment to durable, tactile materials chosen for their longevity and use. Exposed timbers, concrete detailing and deep overhangs express the logic of building while softening the overall form.

Interior spaces are warm, flexible and well proportioned. They are comfortable for two yet capable of expanding to accommodate visiting children, friends staying over and informal gatherings, from family meals to Friday afternoon drinks with the Petro Builders team. Water, breeze and shade are considered as part of the overall site strategy, with overland flow directed through the landscape to support planting, seasonal change and resilience. Designed with future generations in mind, the house is conceived as a long-term contribution to the site, grounded in clarity, generosity and custodianship.